Electronic pedal assembly and method for providing a tuneable hystersis force
First Claim
1. A pedal comprising:
- a base having a surface thereon;
a pedal beam rotatably connected to the base;
an arm member having a medial portion pivotally coupled to the pedal beam, the arm member having a friction surface on a first arm portion for slidably engaging the surface of the base and a second arm portion opposing the first arm portion and pivotal about the medial portion; and
biasing means operable with the second arm portion for biasing the pedal beam toward a preselected position while simultaneously biasing the friction surface against the surface of the base, wherein rotating the pedal beam with an applying force to a free end thereof results in a frictional force between the arm member and the base with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam free end, and wherein reducing the displacement through a retracting force returns the pedal toward the preselected position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic throttle control pedal pivotally couples a lever arm to a pedal beam and biases the beam for resisting an applying force to the pedal beam and for biasing sliding surfaces together in frictional contact. A compression spring carried between a mounting bracket and the lever arm biases the pedal beam toward an idle position while at the same time causing a frictional force between the frictional surfaces, such that displacing the pedal beam with an applying force compresses the spring which increases a frictional force between the friction surfaces with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam distal end, and reducing the displacement through a retracting force on the pedal beam distal end expands the compression spring and returns the pedal beam to the idle position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement. The hysteresis may be tuned by modifying element dimensions of the pedal.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A pedal comprising:
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a base having a surface thereon;
a pedal beam rotatably connected to the base;
an arm member having a medial portion pivotally coupled to the pedal beam, the arm member having a friction surface on a first arm portion for slidably engaging the surface of the base and a second arm portion opposing the first arm portion and pivotal about the medial portion; and
biasing means operable with the second arm portion for biasing the pedal beam toward a preselected position while simultaneously biasing the friction surface against the surface of the base, wherein rotating the pedal beam with an applying force to a free end thereof results in a frictional force between the arm member and the base with an increasing displacement of the pedal beam free end, and wherein reducing the displacement through a retracting force returns the pedal toward the preselected position through a hysteresis force response for the pedal beam displacement.
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Specification