Pedal assembly for electronic braking system

• US 9,616,861 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Soltys, Jarek, Sung, Nack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Diaz, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/463,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20120216651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/18 Connection thereof to initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• 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 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 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An electrical-mechanical brake apparatus includes a bracket and a pedal arm supported by the bracket. The bracket has a cam surface. An arm extends from the pivot arm to a follower. As the pedal arm moves toward the bracket, the follower moves along the cam surface, compressing the cam bias for simulating the feel of a purely mechanical brake system. In certain embodiments, the earn body rotates while in others the cam follower rotates.

Claims

1. A pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a pedal arm having a pedal pad;

a bracket for pivotally supporting the pedal arm about a pivot axis at a hub, the bracket having a first cam surface positioned radially outward from the pivot axis;

a first telescoping arm having a roller mounted to an end, the first telescoping arm extending in a radial direction from the hub and towards the first cam surface, such that the roller is in contact with the first cam surface;

a first biasing spring extending from the hub to the roller, the first biasing spring forcing the roller against the first cam surface such that hysteresis is generated when the pedal arm is depressed; and

a second telescoping arm having a first end and a second end, the first end mounted to the bracket, the second end mounted to the pedal arm between the pedal pad and the hub, the second telescoping arm having a second biasing spring to bias against the depression of the pedal arm.

2. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein the pedal assembly further comprises a main spring extending between the pedal arm and the bracket.

3. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cam surface is in a non-linear orientation to allow for the pedal assembly to be added into compact areas.

4. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm is a separate member and fits onto pre-existing pedal.

5. A pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a pedal arm having a pedal pad;

a bracket for pivotally supporting the pedal arm to pivot about a pivot axis at a pivot pin, the bracket having a first cam surface positioned radially outward from the pivot axis;

a first telescoping arm having a roller mounted to an end, the first arm extending in a radial direction from the pivot pin and towards the roller and the cam surface, such that the roller is in contact with the first cam surface;

a first biasing spring extending from the pivot pin to the roller, the first biasing spring forcing the roller against the first cam surface such that hysteresis is generated when the pedal arm is depressed; and

a second telescoping arm having a first end and a second end, the first end mounted to the bracket, the second end mounted to the pedal arm between the pedal pad and the pivot pin, the second telescoping arm having a second biasing spring to bias against the depression of the pedal arm.

6. The pedal assembly of claim 5, wherein the first cam surface is in a non-linear orientation to allow for the pedal assembly to be added into compact areas.

7. The pedal assembly of claim 5, wherein the first arm is a separate member and fits onto pre-existing pedal.