Energy absorbing brake pedal
First Claim
1. An apparatus for actuating a braking system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a brake pedal supported on the vehicle for movement between a plurality of positions and engageable by a foot of the vehicle occupant to effect actuation of the braking system;
an actuating member movable to actuate the braking system;
a release mechanism connected between said brake pedal and said actuating member, said release mechanism having a first condition connecting said actuating member for movement with said brake pedal, said release mechanism having a second condition releasing said brake pedal for movement relative to said actuating member under load applied to said brake pedal by the vehicle occupant, said release mechanism when in said second condition resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member;
at least one sensor operative to sense a vehicle condition or an occupant condition and to provide a first output signal; and
a controller for receiving said first output signal and for in response controlling said release mechanism to control the resistance of said release mechanism to movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for actuating a braking system of a vehicle (12) comprises a brake pedal (30) and an actuating member (36) movable to actuate the braking system. A release mechanism (40) is connected between the brake pedal (30) and the actuating member. The release mechanism (40) has a first condition connecting the actuating member (36) for movement with the brake pedal (30). The release mechanism (40) has a second condition releasing the brake pedal (30) for movement relative to the actuating member (36) under load applied to the brake pedal by the vehicle occupant. The release mechanism (40) when in the second condition resists movement of the brake pedal (30) relative to the actuating member (36). The apparatus (10) further comprises at least one sensor (14, 16) operative to sense a vehicle condition or an occupant condition and to provide a first output signal. A controller (20) receives the first output signal and in response controls the release mechanism (40) to control the resistance of the release mechanism to movement of the brake pedal (30) relative to the actuating member (36).
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for actuating a braking system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a brake pedal supported on the vehicle for movement between a plurality of positions and engageable by a foot of the vehicle occupant to effect actuation of the braking system;
an actuating member movable to actuate the braking system;
a release mechanism connected between said brake pedal and said actuating member, said release mechanism having a first condition connecting said actuating member for movement with said brake pedal, said release mechanism having a second condition releasing said brake pedal for movement relative to said actuating member under load applied to said brake pedal by the vehicle occupant, said release mechanism when in said second condition resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member;
at least one sensor operative to sense a vehicle condition or an occupant condition and to provide a first output signal; and
a controller for receiving said first output signal and for in response controlling said release mechanism to control the resistance of said release mechanism to movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
the vehicle braking system comprises a cylinder containing brake fluid, a conduit extending from said cylinder to a brake assembly, and a piston movable in said cylinder in response to movement of said brake pedal to direct brake fluid from said cylinder through said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly;
said actuating member comprises a quantity of brake fluid in said conduit; and
said release mechanism comprises an orifice in said cylinder that opens upon actuation of said release mechanism to vent brake fluid from said cylinder to enable movement of said piston in said cylinder without causing movement of said brake fluid in said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly.
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16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said orifice closes after a predetermined amount of movement of said brake pedal in said cylinder.
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17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism comprises a pawl and a ratchet both interposed between said brake pedal and said actuating member resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member, said ratchet having a stop for limiting movement of said brake pedal relative to said ratchet.
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18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism comprises a pawl and a ratchet both interposed between said brake pedal and said actuating member resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member, said ratchet having a stop for limiting movement of said brake pedal relative to said ratchet.
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19. An apparatus for actuating a braking system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a brake pedal supported on the vehicle for movement between a plurality of positions and engageable by a foot of the vehicle occupant to effect actuation of the braking system;
an actuating member movable to actuate the braking system;
a release mechanism connected between said brake pedal and said actuating member, said release mechanism having a first condition connecting said actuating member for movement with said brake pedal, said release mechanism having a second condition releasing said brake pedal for movement relative to said actuating member under load applied to said brake pedal by the vehicle occupant, said release mechanism when in said second condition resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member;
at least one sensor operative to sense a vehicle condition or an occupant condition and to provide a first output signal; and
a controller for receiving said first output signal and for in response controlling said release mechanism to control the resistance of said release mechanism to movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member, said controller determining when to actuate said release mechanism based on multiple sensed occupant conditions. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
the vehicle braking system comprises a cylinder containing brake fluid, a conduit extending from said cylinder to a brake assembly, and a piston movable in said cylinder in response to movement of said brake pedal to direct brake fluid from said cylinder through said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly;
said actuating member comprises a quantity of brake fluid in said conduit; and
said release mechanism comprises an orifice in said cylinder that opens upon actuation of said release mechanism to vent brake fluid from said cylinder to enable movement of said piston in said cylinder without causing movement of said brake fluid in said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly.
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31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said orifice closes after a predetermined amount of movement of said brake pedal in said cylinder.
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32. An apparatus for actuating a braking system of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a brake pedal supported on the vehicle for movement between a plurality of positions and engageable by a foot of the vehicle occupant to effect actuation of the braking system;
an actuating member movable to actuate the braking system;
a release mechanism connected between said brake pedal and said actuating member, said release mechanism having a first condition connecting said actuating member for movement with said brake pedal, said release mechanism having a second condition releasing said brake pedal for movement relative to said actuating member under load applied to said brake pedal by the vehicle occupant, said release mechanism when in said second condition resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member;
at least one sensor operative to sense a vehicle condition or an occupant condition and to provide a first output signal; and
a controller for receiving said first output signal and for in response controlling said release mechanism to control the resistance of said release mechanism to movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member, said at least one sensor sensing occupant seat belt usage, size, weight, and/or position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
the vehicle braking system comprises a cylinder containing brake fluid, a conduit extending from said cylinder to a brake assembly, and a piston movable in said cylinder in response to movement of said brake pedal to direct brake fluid from said cylinder through said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly;
said actuating member comprises a quantity of brake fluid in said conduit; and
said release mechanism comprises an orifice in said cylinder that opens upon actuation of said release mechanism to vent brake fluid from said cylinder to enable movement of said piston in said cylinder without causing movement of said brake fluid in said conduit in a direction toward the brake assembly.
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44. An apparatus as set forth in claim 43 wherein said orifice closes after a predetermined amount of movement of said brake pedal in said cylinder.
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45. An apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said release mechanism comprises a pawl and a ratchet both interposed between said brake pedal and said actuating member resisting movement of said brake pedal relative to said actuating member, said ratchet having a stop for limiting movement of said brake pedal relative to said ratchet.
Specification