Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2001-07-31
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for allowing a seated user to use his or her foot to control a member for actuating a system such as a motor vehicle brake boosting system, said device including a pedal located facing a seat for the user and articulated about an approximately horizontal first axis perpendicular to a direction joining the pedal to the seat, on a support that is mounted adjustably on a carrying structure which also carries the system and the seat, so as to allow the position of the first axis to be adjusted in terms of its distance from the seat, and a linkage connecting the pedal and the actuating member which linkage is articulated about axes parallel to the first axis so as to translate a pivoting movement of the pedal about the first axis with respect to the support into a corresponding displacement of the actuating member with respect to the system and into actuation of this system.
Although it may relate to any type of foot control, on any type of machine, by a seated user, it finds a particular application in the control of the boosted braking of a motor vehicle.
This is because it is known that the quest for optimum ergonomics in terms of the driving position of a motor vehicle, for reasons of comfort and safety, has led to the provision of possibilities for adapting the dimensional characteristics of the driving position to suit the build of the driver.
This adaptation is usually restricted to adjusting the position of the seat, with respect to the floor of the vehicle, in the lengthwise direction thereof, and possibly to adjusting the seat in a heightwise direction, and to adjusting the position of the steering wheel in one and/or other of these two directions, in addition to adjustments regarding the actual configuration of the seat itself.
2. Description of the Prior Art
However, it has recently been proposed that these possibilities for adaptation be supplemented by a means of adjusting the position of the pedal box, particularly the position of the brake pedal, in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle.
To this end, a device of the type mentioned in the preamble in which the support on which the pedal is articulated is itself articulated to a carrying structure, in practical terms to an element of the bodywork or of the chassis of the vehicle has been proposed, so that adjustment is achieved by pivoting the support.
This solution has the double disadvantage of the adjustment of the pedal in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle being accompanied by a variation in the level and orientation of the pedal with respect to the floor of said vehicle and of offering only a very restricted adjustment travel if the aforementioned drawback is not to have too pronounced, that is to say too troublesome, an effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to propose a device which overcomes these drawbacks, it being understood that even though this device has been more specifically designed for controlling a member for actuating a motor vehicle brake boosting system, it can be applied to any foot control, by a seated user, of a member for actuating any system.
To this end, the present invention proposes a device for allowing a seated user to use his or her foot to control a member for actuating a system such as a motor vehicle brake boosting system, the device including a pedal located facing a seat for the user and articulated about an approximately horizontal first axis perpendicular to a direction joining the pedal to the seat, on a support that is mounted adjustably on a carrying structure which also carries the system and the seat, so as to allow the position of the first axis to be adjusted in terms of its distance from the seat, and a linkage connecting the pedal and the actuating member, which linkage is articulated about axes parallel to the first axis so as to translate a pivoting movement of the pedal about the first axis with respect to the support into a corresponding displacement of the actuating member with respect to the system and into actuation of this system,
wherein the support is mounted on the carrying structure so that it can be adjusted in terms of translation in said direction so that the first axis can be placed in several positions, in a determined plane, between two extreme positions which are respectively the position closest to and the position furthest away from the seat, while remaining perpendicular to said direction, and wherein said linkage includes:
a first lever articulated to the carrying structure about a second axis located in said plane, between the extreme position closest to the seat and the latter, parallel to the first axis and having a free end,
a second lever articulated to the carrying structure about a third axis located in said plane, further from the seat than the extreme position furthest from the latter, parallel to the first axis and having a free end,
a straight rod articulated to the free ends of the first and second levers respectively at a fourth axis and a fifth axis, the fourth and fifth axes being parallel to the first axis, spaced apart by a distance that is the same as the distance separating the second and third axes from each other and the distance separating the fourth and second axes from each other being identical to the distance separating the fifth and third axes from each other so that the rod and the first and second levers define a deformable parallelogram with the carrying structure,
a sleeve mounted so that it can slide along the rod and articulated to the pedal about a sixth axis parallel to the first axis and spaced from the latter by a distance that is equal to the distance separating the fourth and second axes from each other or separating the fifth and third axes from each other, and
a connecting rod providing a link between one of the first and second levers and the actuating member, articulated to said lever about a seventh axis parallel to the first axis and offset respectively with respect to the second or third axis.
It will be readily understood that, if considering, for example, the application of the device to controlling the boosted braking of a motor vehicle, and once the plane of the first, second and third axes has been carefully oriented with respect to the floor of the vehicle, a device according to the invention allows any amount of adjustment travel, in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle, without any variation in the level and orientation of the pedal with respect to said floor, it being understood that this advantage is had irrespective of the envisaged application. The adjustment travel is in fact limited only by the space available for the device, and may be as much as several tens of centimeters, this allowing it to satisfy all needs.
Naturally, it could be anticipated for the seventh axis to coincide with the fourth or fifth axis, but it could also be anticipated for it to be offset with respect to these two axes, in terms of angle and/or in terms of distance from the second or third axis respectively, this making it possible to introduce a change of angle effect and/or a step-up or step-down effect between the pivoting movement of the pedal and the movement transmitted to the actuating member.
These two possibilities are compatible with articulating the linking connecting rod, about the seventh axis, on the free end of the first or of the second lever.
However, it is also possible to envisage for the first and second levers to be double and have a first respective branch articulated, on the one hand, to the carrying structure about the second or third axis respectively and, on the other hand, to the rod about the fourth or fifth axis respectively, and a second respective branch secured to the first branch at the second or third axis respectively, and having a free end defining an eighth or ninth axis respectively, the eighth and ninth axes being parallel to the first axis, spaced apart by a distance identical to the distance separating the second and third axes from ea
Green Mary Ann
Levine & Mandelbaum
Societe Financiere d'Etude et de Developpement Industriel e
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