Pressure releasable vehicle pedal assembly

• US 6,565,160 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Baker, Gerard Edward, Ewing, Kip Alan, Rupp, Jeffrey Dan, Pease, Bruce Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZLO, BENJAMIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/504,416
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 303/122, 303/122.11, 303/157, 303/177, 303/191, 303/81, 303/1, 180/274, 180/275, 180/282, 180/232, 180/271
• US Class Current: 303/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/065 with means to prevent injuries in case of collision for vehicle pedals in general by moving them from an operative to an out-of-the way position B60R21/09
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/32 with means to prevent injury

Abstract

A releasable brake pedal system 10 for a vehicle includes a pedal assembly 12 operatively engageable by the driver of the vehicle and a hydraulic actuator assembly 20 for generating pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating one or more brakes 44A-44D. The pedal system 10 further includes a pressure release valve 30 or 30′ coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pressure release valve 30 or 30′ is operative to reduce the amount of pressure applied to the brakes 44A-44D during a detected vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision event. The pressure release valve 30 is responsive to a deceleration sensor 40 according to one embodiment, and valve 30′ employs a deceleration sensitive inertial mass 76 according to another embodiment. Accordingly, the pedal system 10 reduces forces that may otherwise be transferred to the pedal assembly 12 during a collision.

Claims

1. A releasable pedal system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:

a pedal assembly including a pedal pad operatively engageable by a vehicle operator;

an actuator assembly for generating an amount of pressurized fluid responsive to the pedal assembly; and

a pressure release valve coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid and operable to release pressurized fluid to a fluid supply reservoir so as to reduce the amount of pressurized fluid in response to detecting a vehicle collision, wherein said pressure release valve further comprises;

an inertial mass that is movable in response to deceleration to open a fluid path to reduce the amount of pressurized fluid;

a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, said inertial mass disposed within the housing; and

a spring disposed in said housing and biasing the inertial mass to a closed valve position.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure release valve further comprises first and second seals disposed between said inertial mass and said housing, and wherein said first seal is spaced from said second seal to define a fluid flow path therebetween.

3. A releasable brake pedal system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:

a brake pedal assembly including a pedal pad operatively engageable by a vehicle operator;

a hydraulic brake actuator assembly for generating an amount of pressurized hydraulic fluid responsive to the brake pedal assembly;

a brake responsive to said pressurized hydraulic fluid for generating braking force; and

a pressure release valve coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid and operable to release pressurized hydraulic fluid to a fluid supply reservoir so as to reduce the amount of pressurized hydraulic fluid in response to detecting a vehicle collision, wherein said pressure release valve further comprises;

an inertial mass that is movable in response to deceleration to open a fluid path to reduce the amount of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, said inertial mass disposed within the housing; and

a spring disposed in said housing and biasing the inertial mass to a closed valve position.

4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein said pressure release valve further comprises first and second seals disposed between said inertial mass and said housing, and wherein said first seal is spaced from said second seal to define a fluid flow path therebetween.

5. A method of controlling the fluid pressure in a pedal system having a pedal assembly in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an amount of pressurized fluid in response to actuation of a pedal assembly;

detecting vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision; and

reducing the amount of pressurized fluid by releasing pressurized fluid to a fluid supply reservoir in response to said detected vehicle deceleration to reduce collision caused intrusion force transferable to the pedal assembly, wherein said step of reducing the amount of pressurized fluid pressure comprises controlling a valve including moving a spring biased inertial mass.