Electronic foot pedal having improved biasing arrangement

• US 5,133,225 A
• Filed: 01/15/1991
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Williams Controls Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Williams Controls, Inc. (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey L., Lundberg, Chester E., Honyak, James G., Neubauer, Keith A., Nordeen, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US07/641,190
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 74/560, 74/561, 74/512, 74/513, 74/514, 338/153, 200/61.89, 267/156, 267/154, 267/272
• US Class Current: 74/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/10 Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces F16F1/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• 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: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An electronic foot pedal for outputting an electrical signal proportional to the degree a treadle is pivoted. The electronic foot pedal has an improved spring arrangement for yieldably biasing the treadle toward its home position. Dual springs are provided, independently mounted and supplementary to each other. Each spring has an adequate biasing force to urge the treadle to its home position. The springs are of a ribbon-like material that are wound into a flat spiral. The springs are subjected mainly to bending forces and have flexure as the treadle is pivoted to its pivotal limits.

Claims

1. An electronic foot pedal for outputting an electrical signal for controlling speed of a vehicle engine, comprising:

a base, a treadle pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the base, a member coupled to said treadle and responsive to pivotal movement of said treadle for outputting a varying signal proportional to the movement of said treadle between said first and second positions, and

a pair of clock type springs of flat spirally wound ribbon-like material, each spring individually mounted for biasing said treadle toward said first position, said springs each being characterized by uniform bending of the spring along its spiral length to minimize the degree of fatiguing flexure as the treadle is pivoted between the first and second positions.

2. An electronic foot pedal as defined in claim 1, and further including;

a pivot arm extending between said treadle and said base and a pivot shaft pivotally connecting one end of said pivot arm to one of said treadle and said base with the other end slidably engaging the other of said treadle and said base, said pair of springs surrounding said pivot shaft in side by side relation and each spring having one end anchored to said one of said treadle and said base whereby movement of the treadle towards the base forces pivoting of said pivot arm and increased winding of said springs.

3. An electronic foot pedal as defined in claim 2, wherein:

said springs are mounted independent but supplemental one to the other, each spring being characterized with sufficient return biasing force to return the treadle to the first position when not subject to operator treadle pressure.

4. An electronic foot pedal as defined in claim 3, including;

a stop member to limit unwinding of the springs and to establish the first position, said springs being in a preloaded condition at said first position.