Thrust return mechanism

• US 7,318,361 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Boutteville, Olivier, Teulings, Wim, Collet, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Matthew A.
• Application Number:
  US10/499,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20050016322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/16, 745/17, 745/18, 745/05, 745/06, 745/60, 474/70, 474/148
• US Class Current: 74/518
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2057 Variable input leverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

The thrust return mechanism (4) is intended for a thrust return pedal. It includes an electric motor (28) for the positioning of a control member (30) by the intermediary of transmission elements. The transmission elements include at least one cable (48, 52) of which one end is fixed to a first pulley (42, 54) and which is then wound around a second pulley (40, 50) and of which the second end is fixed on the first pulley (42, 54).

Claims

1. A thrust return mechanism intended for a thrust return pedal, comprising:

an electric motor;

a transmission connected to the motor; and

a control member connected to the transmission;

wherein the transmission comprises;

a first driving pulley;

a first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys;

a first cable having first and second ends connected to respective said coaxially rotatable half pulleys in the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys, a center portion of the first cable being wound around the first driving pulley;

wherein the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys are interconnected with one another by a first elastic element, the first elastic element urging the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys in opposite rotational directions to one another so as to tension the first cable.

2. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cable is wound by at least two turns around the first driving pulley.

3. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first cable is provided with an extra thickness disposed on the first driving pulley.

5. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cable is provided with an extra thickness disposed in a corresponding recess disposed on the first driving pulley.

7. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each cable end is provided with an end-piece placed in a corresponding recess formed at the periphery of one of the first coaxially rotatable half-pulleys.

8. A thrust return pedal comprising:

a control device having a control member that moves between a raised position of rest and a position of maximum depression,

a return means for returning the control member to the position of rest, and

a thrust return mechanism designed to create a point of increased resistance during the depression of the control member, wherein the thrust return mechanism comprises a mechanism as claimed in claim 1.

9. The thrust return pedal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the thrust return mechanism is connected to the control device by a connection means, the connection means, thrust return mechanism, and the control device being constructed and arranged so that the thrust return mechanism can only urge the control device in the same direction as the return means.

10. The thrust return mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a second driving pulley fixed to one of the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys;

a second set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys;

a second cable having first and second ends connected to respective said coaxially rotatable half pulleys in the second set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys, a center portion of the second cable being wound around the second driving pulley;

wherein the second set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys are interconnected with one another by a second elastic element, the second elastic element urging the second set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys in opposite rotational directions to one another so as to tension the second cable.

11. The thrust return mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first driving pulley is connected to the electric motor.

12. The thrust return mechanism of claim 11, wherein one of the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys is connected to the control member.

4. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in 2, wherein each of the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys comprises a recess in a periphery thereof, each of the first and second ends of the first cable comprises an end-piece, the end-pieces of the first cable being disposed in respective said recesses on the half pulleys.

6. The thrust return mechanism as claimed in 5, wherein each of the first set of coaxially rotatable half pulleys comprises a recess in a periphery thereof, each of the first and second ends of the first cable comprises an end-piece, the end-pieces of the first cable being disposed in respective said recesses on the half pulleys.