BRAKE PEDAL FOR A DRIVER INSTRUCTION VEHICLE

• US 3,807,253 A
• Filed: 01/02/1973
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilles Belzile, Jean Belzile
• Original Assignee: Gilles Belzile, Jean Belzile
• Inventors: Belzile, Gilles, Belzile, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerin, Leonard H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKenzie, Jr., Frank H.
• Application Number:
  US05/320,563
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512,520,560 180/77C 280/15B
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/34 Double foot controls, e.g. for instruction vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20588 toggle

Abstract

A brake pedal for a driver instruction vehicle is disclosed in which the lever of the brake pedal is articulated intermediate its ends, the pivotal connection being normally locked to keep the lever rigid by an over-center link arrangement which can be unlocked under the control of the instructor. The master brake cylinder piston rod is connected to the lever at the articulation point so that in the unlocked position of the link arrangement, the part of the lever which carries the pedal will swing loosely and the brake pedal will be inoperable to actuate the brake system. In the unlocking position, the control rod which unlocks the link arrangement is effective to actuate the master cylinder piston rod and to operate the braking system. The purpose of the device is to allow the instructor to take over the braking function while at the same time rendering the student'"'"''"'"'s brake pedal ineffective, when he foresees a panic situation which might cause the student to overreact and apply the brake too suddenly.

Claims

1. Braking system including a brake pedal for a driver instruction, the pedal comprising:

a lever pivoted at one end to the vehicle and having a pedal mounted at the other end, a pivotal connection means dividing said lever into two portions pivotable with respect to each other;

locking means associated with said pivotal connection means to connect said two lever portions rigidly together;

control means associated with said locking means to selectively lock and unlock said locking means; and

a connecting means between said lever and said brake system connected only to the portion of said lever between said pivotal connection and said end pivoted to the vehicle.

2. The brake system according to claim 1, wherein said control means is connected to said braking system to operate the same in the unlocked condition of said locking means.

3. The brake system according to claim 1, wherein said control means is connected to said connecting means between said lever and said braking system to operate said braking system in the unlocked condition of said locking means.

4. The brake system according to claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a pair of links pivoted to each other and each pivoted respectively to one of said lever portions at points displaced laterally in the direction of brake actuation movement of said lever and an abutment connected between said lever and at least one of said links to hold said links in over-center locking position, said control means comprising a member engageable with at least one of said links to move said links past said over-center locking position.

5. The brake system according to claim 4, wherein said locking means further comprises a resilient means urging said links into said over-center locking position.

6. The brake system according to claim 4, wherein said abutment is constituted by part of said control means.

7. The brake system according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means between said lever and said brake system, comprises a rod pivotally connected to said pivotal connection means and extending in the direction of brake actuation movement of said lever.

8. The brake system according to claim 7, wherein said control means comprises a rod pivotally connected to said pivotal connection means and extending in the opposite direction, said rod being also slidably mounted to said pivotal connection means within a limited range and comprising a portion engageable with said locking means to unlock the same within said limited range of sliding movement and a portion engageable with said pivotal connection means to actuate said connecting means beyond said limited range of sliding movement.

9. The brake system according to claim 8, wherein said locking means comprises a pair of links pivoted to each other and each pivoted respectively to one of said lever portions at points displaced laterally in the direction of brake actuation movement of said lever, said rod having one end thereof positioned at one extremity of said limited range sliding movement to provide an abutment engageable with at least one of said links to hold said links in overcenter locking posItion, said end of said rod moving at the opposite extremity of said limited range of sliding movement past a position wherein it moves said links beyond said over-center locking position.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said rod end is engageable with said links at said pivotal connection between said links.