Adjustable pedal assembly

• US 6,918,316 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide AB (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fornell, Gunnar, Johansson, Mattias
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, COLBY M
• Application Number:
  US10/091,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/60, 180/334, 188/158, 364/426
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/323 means disconnecting the connection between pedal and controlled member, e.g. by breaking or bending the connecting rod
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/36 Mounting units comprising an assembly of two or more pedals, e.g. for facilitating mounting
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal

Abstract

An adjustable pedal assembly includes a mounting arrangement (1) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37), an accelerator pedal (6), a brake pedal (7), and a clutch pedal (8). The pedals (6, 7, 8) are pivotally supported with respect to the mounting arrangement (1) and define a first pivot axis (9). An adjustment element (5) is pivotally supported with respect to the mounting structure (1) and defines a second pivot axis (4). The adjustment element (5) selectively moves the pedals (6, 7, 8) between a plurality of operable positions. The adjustable pedal assembly is characterized by the pedals (6, 7, 8) being pivotally supported with respect to the adjustment element (5) wherein the second pivot axis (4) is generally parallel to the first pivot axis (9). A driving mechanism with an electric motor (11) and gear assembly (12) is used to rotate the adjustment element (5) about the second pivot axis (4). The pedals (6, 7, 8) are pivotally mounted within the adjustment element (5) to pivot about the first pivot axis (9), thus the first pivot axis (9) moves with respect to the second pivot axis (4) when the adjustment element (5) is rotated.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising:

a mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37);

at least one pedal (6, 7, or 8) having first and second ends and supported for pivotally moving about a first pivot axis (9) between rest and applied positions;

an adjustment element (5) pivotally supported on said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) about a second pivot axis (4) with said second pivot axis (4) remaining fixed relative to said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) as said adjustment element (5) pivotally moves between various adjusted positions;

said first pivot axis (9) supporting said first end of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) on said adjustment element (5) spaced from said second pivot axis (4) for pivotal movement relative to said adjustment element (5) with said first pivot axis (9) being generally parallel to said second pivot axis (4),

a drive mechanism operably connected to said adjustment element (5) for selectively rotating said adjustment element (5), said pedal (6, 7, or 8), and said first pivot axis (9) about said second pivot axis (4) between said various adjusted positions for selectively moving said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between a plurality of operable positions without pivotally moving said pedal (6, 7, or 8) about said first pivot axis (9) relative to said adjustment element (5); and

an electric signal generator responsive to pivotal movement of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) for electrically controlling a vehicle system in response to pivotal movement of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) about said first pivot axis (9) in a range between said rest and applied positions independently of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) moving between any one of said operable positions defined by said adjusted positions of said adjustment element (5) about said second pivot axis (4).

2. An assembly as set forth with claim 1 including a second pedal (6, 7, or 8) pivotally supported by said adjustment element (5) whereby said adjustment element (5) simultaneously adjusts the operational positions of both of said pedals.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electric signal generator is connected to said pedal (6, 7, or 8) and directly responsive to pivotal movement of said pedal (6, 7, or 8).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said electric signal generator is further defined as a potentiometer (36) that emits an electric signal varying with the pivotal position of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between said rest and applied positions about said first pivot axis (9).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one pedal (6, 7, or 8) includes an accelerator pedal (6) extending downwardly from said adjustment element (5) and terminating at an accelerator pedal pad (30).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adjustment element (5) adjusts an angular position of said accelerator pedal pad (30) when selectively rotated by said drive mechanism.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive mechanism includes a gear assembly with a rotor element (12) that is driven by an electric motor (11).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second pivot axis (4) is located vertically above said first pivot axis (9).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said adjustment element (5) maintains said first pivot axis (9) at a lower vertical position than said second pivot axis (4) at all adjusted positions.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein an angle formed between a connection line (35) extending between said first (9) and second (4) pivot axes and a vertical line (34) extending perpendicular to said second pivot axis (4) is in the range of 30°

to 40°

.

11. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising:

a mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37);

a pedal (6, 7, or 8) pivotally supported about a first pivot axis (9) for rotation between rest and applied positions about said first pivot axis (9);

an adjustment element (5) pivotally supported on said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) about a second pivot axis (4) with said second pivot axis (4) remaining fixed relative to said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) as said adjustment element (5) pivotally moves between various adjusted positions;

said first pivot axis (9) supporting said pedal (6, 7, or 8) on said adjustment element (5) for pivotal rotation relative to said adjustment element (5) with said first pivot axis (9) being generally parallel to said second pivot axis (4),

a drive mechanism operably connected to said adjustment element (5) for selectively rotating said adjustment element (5), said pedal (6, 7, or 8), and said first pivot axis (9) about said second pivot axis (4) between said various adjusted positions for selectively moving said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between a plurality of operable positions without pivotally rotating said pedal (6, 7, or 8) about said first pivot axis (9) relative to said adjustment element (5); and

an electric output control operatively connected to said pedal (6, 7, or 8) and directly responsive to pivotal rotation of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) about said first pivot axis (9) between said rest and applied positions for electrically controlling a vehicle system response to pivotal rotation of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) independently of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) moving between any one of said operable positions defined by said adjusted positions of said adjustment element (5) about said second pivot axis (4).

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pedal (6, 7, or 8) has first and second ends with said first end being mounted to said adjustment (5) and said second end supporting a pedal pad (30, 31, or 32).

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said adjustment element (5) adjusts an angular position of said pedal pad (30, 31, or 32) when selectively rotated by said drive mechanism.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said electric output control is further defined as a potentiometer (36) that emits an electric signal varying with the pivotal position of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between said rest and applied positions about said first pivot axis (9).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second pivot axis (4) is located vertically above said first pivot axis (9).

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said adjustment element (5) maintains said first pivot axis (9) at a lower vertical position than said second pivot axis (4) at all adjusted positions.

17. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising:

a mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37);

a pedal (6, 7, or 8) pivotally supported about a first pivot axis (9) with respect to said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) for rotation between rest and applied positions about said first pivot axis (9);

an adjustment element (5) pivotally supported about a second pivot axis (4) with respect to said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) with said second pivot axis (4) remaining fixed relative to said mounting arrangement (1, 2, 3) as said adjustment element (5) pivotally moves between various adjusted positions about said second pivot axis (4);

said first pivot axis (9) supporting said pedal (6, 7, or 8) on said adjustment element (5) with said adjustment element (5) selectively moving said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between a plurality of operable positions during said pivotal movement between said various adjusted positions about said second pivot axis (4) without pivotally rotating said pedal (6, 7, or 8) about said first pivot axis (9), said first pivot axis (9) being generally parallel to said second pivot axis (4); and

an electrical generator mounted adjacent said pedal (6, 7, or 8) and responsive to rotation of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) for emitting an electric signal that varies with said rotational position of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between said rest and applied positions around said first pivot axis (9) independently of movement of said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between said plurality of operable positions defined by said adjusted positions of said adjustment element (5) about said second pivot axis (4).

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said pedal (6, 7, or 8) has first and second ends with said first end being mounted to said adjustment element (5) and said second end supporting a pedal pad (30, 31, or 32).

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said adjustment element (5) adjusts an angular position of said pedal pad (30, 31, or 32) during said movement between said various adjusted positions.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said electrical generator is further defined as a potentiometer (36) for emitting the electric signal that varies with said rotational position of said pedal (6, 7, or 8).

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further including a drive mechanism operably connected to said adjustment element (5) for selectively rotating said adjustment element (5), said pedal (6, 7, or 8), and said first pivot axis (9) about said second pivot axis (4) between said various adjusted positions.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said drive mechanism includes a gear assembly with a rotor element (12) that is driven by an electric motor (11).

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second pivot axis (4) is located vertically above said first pivot axis (9).

24. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said adjustment element (5) maintains said first pivot axis (9) at a lower vertical position than said second pivot axis (4) at all adjusted positions.

25. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein an angle formed between a connection line (35) extending between said first (9) and second (4) pivot axes and a vertical line (34) extending perpendicular to said second pivot axis (4) is in the range of 30°

to 40°

.