Pedal

• US 6,446,526 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• 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: Reimann, Christian, Kohlen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/949,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12--17, 745/60, 188/74, 188/166, 188/379, 188/380, 192/41.R
• 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 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 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 the pedal plate, by 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 a lever arm of the pedal arm and being prestressed against the friction surface by the restoring-spring element;

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

the pedal further comprises a second lever pivotably mounted at one end and having said friction surface on one side, wherein

said restoring-spring element is a compression spring which engages said second lever on an other side of the second lever spaced from said one end, and presses said friction surface against said friction body.

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

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 the second lever and the pedal respectively are pivotal about spaced apart pivot points.

5. The pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said restoring-spring element has an axis parallel to an imaginary line joining said pivot points.

6. 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 the pedal plate, by 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 a lever arm of the pedal arm and being prestressed against the friction surface by the restoring-spring element;

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

the pedal further comprises a second lever pivotably mounted at one end and having said friction surface on one side, wherein

said restoring-spring element is a compression spring which engages a free end of said second lever on an other side of the second lever, and presses said friction surface against said friction body; and

wherein said friction surface is on the free end of said second lever.

7. The pedal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second lever and the pedal respectively are pivotal about spaced apart pivot points.

8. The pedal as claimed in claim 6, wherein said restoring-spring element has an axis parallel to an imaginary line joining said pivot points.