Gas pedal

• US 6,467,369 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Mann, Thomas, Severien, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US09/493,899
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/60, 123/399, 267/41, 267/158
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/46 Means, e.g. links, for connecting the pedal to the controlled unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal

Abstract

A gas pedal for a motor vehicle has a pedal arm which is mounted pivotably in a holding part and has a restoring device, which slides along the rear side of the pedal arm, and a damping element for damping the movement of the pedal arm. A setpoint generator generates, from the relative movement of the pedal arm with respect to the restoring device, electric signals which can be varied as a function of position.

Claims

1. A gas pedal comprising:

a holding part;

a pedal arm which is held by the holding part; and

a restoring device in sliding contact with the pedal arm, wherein the restoring device produces an actuating force that automatically pivots the pedal arm back into an initial position, comprising;

a sliding contact in contact with the pedal arm, wherein the pedal arm moves with respect to the restoring device in the region of the sliding contact creating a defined relative movement,

a restoring device spring element,

a setpoint generator attached to the restoring device spring element, wherein the setpoint generator generates an electrical signal which can be varied as a function of the position of the pedal arm, and

a damping element which dampens movements of the pedal arm by using the defined relative motion.

2. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal arm has a friction coating in the region of the sliding contact.

3. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the friction coating comprises a material having coefficients of friction which differ as a function of direction.

4. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the setpoint generator detects a relative movement between the pedal arm and the restoring device.

5. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the setpoint generator further comprises at least one potentiometer arranged on the pedal arm, wherein the restoring device actuates the potentiometer.

6. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pedal arm further comprises a base, wherein the sliding contact is on the base, each of the at least one potentiometers further comprises at least one slideway arranged in the base wherein the base is prestressed against the sliding contact.

7. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding contact comprises a ceramic substrate.

8. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding contact comprises an electrically conducting plastic.

9. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring element comprises at least two leaf springs mounted in the holding part.

10. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pedal arm comprises a pedal arm U-shaped cross section.

11. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the restoring device comprises a restoring device U-shaped cross section that engages into the U-shaped region of the pedal arm.

12. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pedal arm U-shaped cross section comprises at least one limb, and the damping element comprises damping spring elements which are fastened on the restoring device and are prestressed against the limbs.

13. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pedal arm U-shaped cross section comprises at least one limb and the pedal arm further comprises at least one groove in at least one of the limbs and the restoring device comprises pegs in equal number to the grooves wherein the pegs engage into the grooves.

14. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal arm has a projection, which protrudes toward the restoring device, as an over-compressible kick-down threshold against which the restoring device runs when the pedal arm is almost entirely pressed down.

15. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the setpoint generator detects a deformation of the spring element of the restoring device.

16. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the setpoint generator comprises a resistance strain gage arranged on the spring element.

17. The gas pedals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setpoint generator comprises a noncontact displacement sensor, which detects the relative movement between the pedal arm and the restoring device.

18. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding part has an idle-speed stop.

19. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding part comprises plastic and is manufactured by injection molding.

21. The gas pedal as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the limbs comprises at least one peg and wherein the restoring device further comprises grooves in equal number to the pegs, wherein the pegs engage into the grooves.

20. A gas pedal comprising

a holding part;

a pedal arm which is held by the holding part; and

a restoring device wherein the restoring device produces an actuating force that automatically pivots the pedal arm back into an initial position, comprising;

a sliding contact in contract with the pedal arm, wherein the pedal arm moves with respect to the restoring device in the region of the sliding contact,

a restoring device spring element,

a setpoint generator attached to the restoring device spring element, wherein the setpoint generator generates an electric signal which can be varied as a function of the position of the pedal arm, and

a damping element for damping movements of the pedal arm wherein the damping of the movements of the pedal arm is produced by a relative movement of the pedal arm with respect to the restoring device.