Accelerator pedal module

Details Accelerator pedal module Accelerator pedal module

1997-05-27

2000-06-06

Battista, Mary Ann

Machine element or mechanism

Control lever and linkage systems

Foot operated

74560, G05G 114

Patent

active

06070490&

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
PRIOR ART

The invention is based on an accelerator pedal module for controlling the output of a driving engine of a vehicle motor.
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. It has been found that the friction that occurs in the mechanical transmission means has an advantageous effect on the road feel. Recently, the mechanical transmission means have increasingly been replaced with electrical transmission means. To allow the driver to continue to have the pleasing road feel that he is used to from the mechanical transmission means, additional provision for friction in the region of the pedal lever must be made when electrical transmission means are used. Several patent applications have already been filed (such as DE 34 11 393 A1; EP-A 00 92 640 U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,151, ; WO-A 89/07706 U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,220; WO-A 91/04165 U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,269) in which additional friction elements and spring elements are provided in order to create the desired friction.


ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

By comparison, the accelerator pedal module embodied according to the invention has the advantage in particular that to create the friction no additional components are needed. The number of components required is advantageously reduced substantially.
The bearing radius that determines the friction can be adapted in a simple, advantageous way to the demands of the customer or to vehicle-specific requirements. In particular, there is no need to modify the sensor that furnishes a signal to a controller.
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.
By means of the provisions recited herein advantageous further features of and improvements to the accelerator pedal module are possible.
If the restoring spring assembly is embodied such that it acts upon the pedal lever in a manner that determines the friction, then this has the advantage that if a reduction in the restoring force of the restoring spring assembly should occur as a result of a defect, the friction decreases to the same extent as the restoring force, so that even when there is reduced restoring force, it remains assured that the pedal lever will be returned to its proper position.
If one bearing shell and one bearing journal each are provided on either side of the pedal lever longitudinally of the pedal lever, this has the advantage of a safe bearing, without the danger of unilateral stress and any possible premature wear produced as a result.
If the restoring spring assembly includes a plurality of restoring springs, preferably two of them, this has the advantage that if one of the restoring springs fail the restoration of the pedal lever remains assured.
If the restoring spring assembly is embodied in the form of a leaf spring or a plurality of lea

REFERENCES:
patent: 4505151 (1985-03-01), Sauerschell et al.
patent: 4869220 (1989-09-01), Imoehl
patent: 4944269 (1990-07-01), Imoehl
patent: 5233882 (1993-08-01), Byram et al.
patent: 5408899 (1995-04-01), Stewart
patent: 5497677 (1996-03-01), Baumann et al.

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