Accelerator pedal module

Details Accelerator pedal module Accelerator pedal module

1997-05-27

1999-08-10

Luong, Vinh T.

Machine element or mechanism

Control lever and linkage systems

Foot operated

74512, 74560, 123399, 701 1, G05G 114, F02D 700

Patent

active

059341521

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention is based on an accelerator pedal module for controlling the output of a driving engine of a motor vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
To control the output of a driving engine of a motor vehicle, the demand made by the vehicle driver must be transmitted to the driving engine by a pedal lever disposed in the region of the vehicle driver. In conventional motor vehicles, this transmission is normally effected with the aid of mechanical transmission means. The mechanical transmission means are for instance a rod linkage or a Bowden cable. In these versions., there is a sensor that measures the position of the pedal lever. Measured values from this sensor are transmitted to the driving engine for the sake of controlling the engine.
Until now, the sensor has been supported in a common housing together with the restoring spring assembly (such as DE 34 11 393 A1; EP-A 00 92 640; WO-A 89/07706; WO-A 91/04165). In addition, the common housing often also includes a kickdown mechanism and an end switch, as well as various friction elements and springs that act on the friction elements. In these versions, the wiper of the sensor, the restoring springs, the springs for the friction elements, and parts of the kickdown mechanism are supported on a common shaft. Since along with the sensor various other components are also disposed in the housing, adapting to vehicle-specific differences entails major effort and expense. Since there are many different vehicle-specific demands, there are many different variant embodiments. In the known version, simple adaptation to different vehicle-specific pedal travel distances is not possible unless the entire structural unit that contains the sensor is modified. Moreover, because the housing is rather large, the sensor can normally not be disposed within a range of the driver's foot.


SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

A sensor is a complex component that can be manufactured economically only if it is possible to produce the sensor in a uniform design in large numbers. Any modification increases the production cost considerably. The proposed accelerator pedal module can advantageously be manufactured in such a way that a uniformly designed sensor can always be secured to the mounting structure. Adaptation to special customer demands, which can fluctuate considerably from vehicle to vehicle, can advantageously be met without major expense by simply modifying the pedal lever or the mounting structure or the bearing radius.
By suitably choosing the engagement between the sensor lever pivot connection and the pedal lever pivot connection, and in particular by a suitable choice of the radial spacing between the pivot axis and the pedal lever pivot connection, the resolution of the sensor can advantageously be adapted easily, simply and without major effort to customer demands, without requiring a modification of the sensor. This reduces the great number of parts considerably.
The accelerator pedal module advantageously allows a structural form that can be manufactured economically in a way easy to assemble and that can be adapted easily without additional expense.
Even when there is a single accelerator pedal module, the savings attainable in terms of production cost and structural volume make themselves felt in an advantageous way. Given the fact that the accelerator pedal module is required in large numbers and is manufactured on a large mass-produced scale, very major, decisive cost advantages result. In the proposed accelerator pedal module, assembly is facilitated greatly, which is especially clear given the large numbers involved. Automated or semiautomated manufacture is made substantially easier.
Since the accelerator pedal module can be produced as a compact structural unit, the space required for the accelerator pedal module in a motor vehicle is advantageously especially slight, and mounting of the accelerator pedal module in the motor vehicle is especially simple.
In the accelerator pedal module p

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patent: 5768946 (1998-06-01), Fromer et al.
patent: 5787760 (1998-08-01), Thorlakson

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