Electronic pedal assembly and method for providing a tuneable hystersis force

• US 6,857,336 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William C. Staker
• Original Assignee: William C. Staker
• Inventors: Staker, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/314,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/60
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

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.

Claims

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.