Module with force hysteresis

• US 6,526,844 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Weis, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stefanon, Justin
• Application Number:
  US09/514,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/27, 745/29, 745/31, 745/32, 745/64, 188/83, 192/45, 280/298, 280/301
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator

Abstract

The module (10) serves for producing a force hysteresis during pivoting of a rotary element (14, 16) which is mounted rotatably in a housing (12) and on which there is secured at least one spring element (20), of which the free end slides, via a friction element (18), on a stationary friction surface (22). In order for it not to be necessary to rely on separate restoring mechanisms, it is proposed that, in all the angled positions of the rotary element (14, 16) relative to the housing (12), the reaction force of the spring element (22) subjects the rotary element (14, 16) to a restoring moment about the rotary spindle (24). Such a module (10), with a compact construction, makes it possible, with the aid of a spring element (20), to produce both the restoring forces and the frictional forces necessary for the hysteresis.

Claims

1. A module for producing a force hysteresis during pivoting of a rotary element comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a rotary element mounted on the housing for rotation about a rotary spindle between starting and operating positions, the rotatable element including a portion located within the housing;

(c) a stationary friction surface formed on the inside of the housing, which surface curves with a changing radius about the rotary spindle;

(d) at least one bore in the portion of the rotary element located within the housing, which bore is open in the direction facing the stationery friction surface; and

(e) a spring biased friction element located in the at least one bore pressing against the curved, stationary friction surface, wherein in all the angled positions of the rotary element relative to the housing, the reaction force of the spring biased friction element subjects the rotary element to a restoring moment about the rotary spindle.

2. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a housing contour forms the friction surface.

3. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction element is mounted in a guide path and guided in a linearly displaceable manner in the bore of the rotary element, the guide path being located on a straight line running at a certain distance from the axis of rotation of the rotary element.

4. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two biasing springs elements are provided for redundancy.

5. The module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the friction element (18, 46) has a stop (52) which, in the event of excessive wear of the friction element (18), interacts with a housing-side stop (56, 58) projecting into the pivot path thereof.

6. The module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stops are located in a position in relation to one another which during pivoting of the rotary element (14), in the abutment region, essentially avoids relative movement between the stop surfaces.