Anti-lash pedal bushing

• US 6,799,487 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Garland, Nathan L., Volker, Andrew James
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/170,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/60, 384/29, 384/37, 384/38, 384/42
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

The adjustable pedal assembly (10) and (12) is characterized by a bushing (50) having a circumferentially flexible configuration for minimizing cocking movement of a pedal lever hub (36) relative to a guide rod. The bushing (50) includes peaks (56) and valleys (58) extending parallel to the bushing axis (B). The bushing (50) includes a pair of bearing straps (60,64) extending partially about the bushing (50) and have a radial thickness filling the radial distance between the peaks (56) and valleys (58). The bearing straps (60,64) are aligned to extend across the axis of the pedal lever (38) for reacting to loads placed on the hub (36) by the pedal lever (38). The bushing (50) includes a slit (62,66) extending circumferentially adjacent each of the straps (60,64) to allow the peaks (56) and valleys (58) to move circumferentially independently of the straps (60,64).

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (14) for mounting to a vehicle,

a guide rod (16) supported by said support (14) and having a longitudinal guide rod axis (A),

a hub (36) supported on said guide rod (16) for rectilinear movement in fore and aft directions relative to and along said guide rod axis (A) of said guide rod (16) between various adjusted positions,

a pedal lever (38) extending from said hub (36) along a pedal lever (38) axis to a distal pad end, and

a bushing (50) disposed between said guide rod (16) and said hub (36) and extending between a leading end (52) and a trailing end (54) in a cylindrical shape about a bushing axis (B) parallel to said guide rod axis (A),

said bushing (50) including a circumferentially flexible configuration about said bushing axis (B) for minimizing cocking movement of said hub (36) relative to said guide rod axis (A),

said bushing (50) including at least one of peaks and/or valleys (58) extending parallel to said bushing axis (B) and engaging one of said hub (36) and/or said guide rod (16),

a bearing strap (60 or 64) extending partially about said bushing (50) adjacent one end (52 or 54) thereof and having and radial thickness filling the radial distance between said hub (36) and said rod (16).

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearing strap (60, 64) is aligned to extend across said pedal axis for reacting to loads placed on said hub (36) by said pedal lever (38) tending to cock said hub (36) relative to said guide rod axis (A).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slit (62 or 66) extending circumferentially with said strap (60 or 64) to separate said strap (60 or 64) from said peaks (56) and/or valleys (58) adjacent thereto.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bushing (50) includes a pair of said bearing straps (60, 64) disposed one hundred and eighty degrees from one another about said bushing (50) and with one strap (60) at said leading end (52) and one strap (64) at said trailing end (54).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slit (62, 66) extending circumferentially adjacent each of said straps (60, 64) to separate said straps (60, 64) from said peaks (56) and/or valleys (58) adjacent thereto.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bushing (50) comprises an integral organic polymeric material and a plurality of said valleys (58) are filled valleys (68) with said material.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein a first (62) of said slits terminates at a first end in a first valley and at a second end in a second valley and one of said filled valleys (68) is disposed next adjacent to each of said first and second valleys (58).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a pair of said filled valleys (68) disposed between said ends of said first slit (62).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slot (70), and including a drive tongue (46) connected to said hub (36) and extending radially through said slot (70).

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said slot (70) opens into said leading end (52) of said bushing (50) and including a retaining tab (72) extending radially from said bushing (50) on each side of said slot (70) said leading end (52) thereof, said tabs (72) radially overlapping said hub (36) for retaining said bushing (50) in said hub (36).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said slot (70) terminates in said second slit (66), said second slit (66) extending circumferentially to either side of said second slit (66).

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 including V-shaped lips (74) disposed along the edges of said slot (70) for allowing said tabs (72) to move radially inwardly during insertion of said bushing (50) into said hub (36) while allowing clearance for said tongue (46) to into said slot (70).

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said bushing (50) includes an opening (76) and including a spring (78) disposed in said opening (76) for reacting radially between said hub (36) and said guide rod (16).

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a drive mechanism disposed in said guide rod (16) and connected to said tongue (46) for moving said hub (36) axially along said guide rod (16).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bushing (50) comprises an integral organic polymeric material and a plurality of said valleys (58) are filled with said material.

16. A bushing for disposition between a guide rod (16) and a hub (36) and extending between a leading end (52) and trailing end (54) in a cylindrical shape about a bushing axis (B),

a circumferentially flexible configuration about said bushing axis (B) for minimizing cocking movement between the hub (36) and the guide rod (16),

said bushing (50) including at least one of peaks (56) and/or valleys (58) extending parallel to said bushing axis (B) and/or the guide rod (16),

a bearing strap (60 or 64) extending partially about said bushing (50) adjacent one end (52 or 54) thereof and having a radial thickness filling the radial distance to said peaks (56) and/or valleys (58).

17. A bushing set forth in claim 16 wherein said bearing strap (60, 64) is aligned to extend across said pedal axis for reacting to loads placed on the hub (36) tending to cock the hub (36) relative to said bushing axis (B).

18. A bushing as set forth in claim 17 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slit (62, 66) extending circumferentially with said strap (60, 64) to separate said strap (60, 64) from said peaks (56) and/or valleys (58) adjacent thereto.

19. A bushing as set forth in claim 18 wherein said bushing (50) includes a pair of said bearing straps (60, 64) disposed one hundred and eighty degrees from one another about said bushing (50) and with one strap (60) at said leading end (52) and one strap (64) at said trailing end (54).

20. A bushing as set forth in claim 19 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slit (62, 66) extending circumferentially adjacent each of said straps (60, 64) to separate said straps (60, 64) from said peaks (56) and/or valleys (58) adjacent thereto.

21. A bushing as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bushing (50) comprises an integral organic polymeric material and a plurality of said valleys (58) are filled valleys (68) with said material.

22. A bushing as set forth in claim 21 wherein a first (62) of said slits terminates at a first end in a first valley and at a second end in a second valley and one of said filled valleys (68) is disposed next adjacent to each of said first and second valleys (58).

23. A bushing as set forth in claim 22 including a pair of said filled valleys (68) disposed between said ends of said first slit (62).

24. A bushing as set forth in claim 23 wherein said bushing (50) includes a slot (70) opening (76) into said leading end (52) of said bushing (50) and including a retaining tab (72) extending radially from said bushing (50) on each side of said slot (70) at said leading end (52) thereof whereby said tabs (72) radially overlap the hub (36) for retaining said bushing (50) in the hub (36).

25. A bushing as set forth in claim 24 wherein said slot (70) terminates in said second slit (66), said slit (66) extending circumferentially to either side of said second slit (66).

26. A bushing as set forth in claim 25 including V-shaped lips (74) disposed along the edges of said slot (70).

27. A bushing as set forth in claim 26 wherein said bushing (50) includes an opening (76).