Pedal

• US 6,336,377 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Kohlen, Peter, Reimann, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/710,577
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12--14, 745/60--62, 745/22, 744/78, 403/109, 403/377
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• 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: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A pedal having a pivotably mounted pedal mounted pedal arm, which is prestressed into an initial position by means of a restoring-spring element designed as a leg spring, has a friction body which is prestressed against a friction surface by means of the restoring-spring element. The friction body is designed as an eccentric cam plate and thus, in addition to a hysteresis, also permits a non-linear profile of the pedal-actuating force.

Claims

1. A pedal, suitable for a vehicle, comprising:

a pedal arm, a pedal plate mounted to the pedal arm, a restoring-spring element, and a friction damper including a friction body and a friction surface;

wherein the pedal arm is pivotable about a pivot axis and is deflectable by means of the pedal plate, by way of foot force, and is pivotable back into an initial position by the restoring-spring element;

the friction damper is for damping movement of the pedal arm, the friction body being connected to the pedal arm and being prestressed against the friction surface by the restoring-spring element;

the friction body is arranged eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis;

wherein, on the side of the pedal which is directed toward the friction body, the restoring-spring element has said friction surface;

wherein the restoring-spring element comprises a leg spring; and

wherein the friction body has point symmetry, and is clamped between legs of the leg spring.

2. The pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction body comprises a cam plate.

3. The pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restoring-spring element has a progressive spring characteristic.

4. The pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein lines of action of spring force respectively applied by each of two of the legs of the leg spring on the friction body are approximately aligned.