Electronic foot pedal

• US 4,976,166 A
• Filed: 12/28/1988
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Williams Controls Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey L., Byler, Jay D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US07/290,980
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 74/560, 74/513, 74/514, 74/512, 74/526, 338/153, 338/108, 338/47, 338/113, 180/65.1
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2063 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An electronic foot pedal for diesel engine control systems. The pedal provides a voltage signal to a diesel engine electronic fuel control system in response to the drivers demand for engine power. Disclosed is an accelerator pedal assembly containing a potentiometer and pedal interfacing components which provide a voltage signal proportional to pedal position. The pedal assembly is an integral unit which is cab mounted and connected to the engine fuel control via an appropriate wiring harness. An idle stop pin provides a positive pedal idle position. When the idle stop pin is removed, the bias spring load forcing the pedal toward idle is relieved allowing easy assembly of the device.

Claims

1. A foot pedal assembly for generating an electrical signal which is representative of the angular position of a pedal comprising:

a base having a track;

a pedal having upper and lower sides, said pedal pivotally mounted above said base and adapted to be pivoted toward and away from said track;

a lever arm having upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotably mounted on the lower side of said pedal, said lever arm including a bearing means at the lower end of the lever arm, said bearing means engaging said track and being forced to move between a depressed and an idle position along said track upon respective pivotal movement of the pedal toward and away from said track;

a potentiometer carried on one of said lever arm and pedal which is responsive to the relative pivoting movement therebetween for generating an electrical signal representative of the angular position of said pedal;

spring biasing means biasing said lever arm toward the idle position, said spring biasing means having a pre-loaded condition in said idle position, and a stop member mounted on said pedal for engaging the lever arm and stopping the spring biasing movement of the lever arm at said idle position, said stop member being removably mounted to said pedal whereby the lever arm and spring biasing means can be mounted to said pedal with the stop member removed and with the spring biasing means in an unloaded condition to be thereafter pivoted past the idle position and toward said depressed position for mounting the stop member to the pedal.

2. A foot pedal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop member is a pin mounted between ears provided on said pedal.