Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Displacement – motion – distance – or position
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-15
2003-01-14
McCall, Eric S. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Displacement, motion, distance, or position
C073S118040, C073S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06505496
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present invention is related to Japanese patent application No. Hei. 11-355746, filed Dec. 15, 1999; 2000-229892, filed Jul. 28, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an accelerator device, and more particularly, to an accelerator device in which both the axis of rotation of an accelerator member and the axis of rotation of an accelerator opening sensor rotate about the same axis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Previously, an accelerator device equipped with an accelerator opening sensor was disclosed in Japanese published unexamined patent applications Heisei 10-287147 and Heisei. 11-59220. An accelerator device is used by a driver to control the engine by means of a accelerator pedal depressed by the driver's foot or the like.
The accelerator opening sensor detects the amount of force applied to the accelerator pedal, i.e., the accelerator pedal's angle of rotation or, in other words, the degree of accelerator opening. The degree of accelerator opening is used as control information and the like by the throttle device. The sensor disclosed in Japanese published unexamined utility model application Showa 62-97909 can be used as an accelerator opening sensor. Here, a contact member on the sensor rotor of an accelerator opening sensor contacts with a substrate coated with a resistor. When the angle of rotation of the sensor rotor changes by actuation of the accelerator, the position of the contact member and the resistor changes, and the value of the voltage output changes. The degree of accelerator opening can be detected by this change in voltage output.
In the accelerator device disclosed in Japanese published unexamined patent applications Heisei 10-287147 and Heisei 11-59220, the axis of rotation of the accelerator member having the accelerator pedal, and the axis of rotation of the sensor rotor of the accelerator opening sensor, are different. There are two axes. The level of pressing or accelerator actuation on the accelerator member is transmitted to the sensor rotor by means of the transmission member, and the amount of accelerator actuation is detected by the position of the rotation angle.
However, because there are different axes of rotation for the accelerator member and the sensor rotor, the axes of rotation must be aligned, and thus the number of parts increases. Consequently, the level of production complexity increases, and manufacturing costs climb. In addition, because there are two axes, the device becomes much larger. Furthermore, because the rotational movement of the acceleration member is transmitted to the axis of rotation of a different sensor rotor by means of a transmission member, the rate of change of the level of accelerator actuation and the rate of change of the sensor rotor are not the same, and errors are generated. Furthermore, if the position of the two axes accidentally shifts or deviates by warping in materials when the accelerator device is connected to an automobile chassis or the like, the degree of accelerator opening cannot be detected with a high degree of accuracy.
In order to eliminate these types of problems, rotating the accelerator member and the sensor rotor about the same axis of rotation has been considered. However, in an acceleration device in which these elements are rotated about the same axis, when the accelerator member slides due to a movement of the accelerator in other than a rotational direction, this shift or deviation is also created in the sensor rotor. When the sensor rotor slides, there is a danger that there will be poor contact between the contact member and a resistor and slide/contact type of sensor. Even with other types of sensor methods, there is the danger that a high degree of accuracy cannot be obtained there is shift or deviation in the sensor rotor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a small accelerator device that detects the degree of accelerator opening with a high degree of accuracy. The present invention also provides an accelerator device that prevents the degree of accelerator opening from being fixed in the full open position, even if the recess portion and the protruding member inserted therein are damaged. In the present invention, both the accelerator rotor and sensor rotor rotate about a single support shaft that serves as an axis of rotation. Because one shaft serves as the axis of rotation, the accelerator device can be made small. In addition, compared to where the accelerator rotor and sensor rotor have different axes of rotation, alignment during assembly is easy. In addition, because the number of parts is reduced and assembly becomes easy, production costs are reduced. In addition, because the amount of actuation is transmitted from the accelerator rotor directly to the sensor rotor and not through a transmission member, the rate of change in the amount of accelerator actuation and the rate of change in the sensor rotor are consistent with one another. Thus, there are no transmission errors generated in the amount of accelerator actuation, and the degree of accelerator opening can be detected with a high degree of accuracy.
Furthermore, the support shaft does not rotate but is fixed to the support member, and the amount of accelerator actuation is transmitted to the sensor rotor due to the fact that the accelerator rotor and the sensor rotor are engaged with each other. Even if the accelerator rotor slides in a direction other than toward rotation due to accelerator actuation, the engaged configuration absorbs shift or deviation in the accelerator rotor, and thus the shift or deviation in the accelerator rotor is prevented from being transmitted to the sensor rotor, and the degree of accelerator opening can be detected with a high degree of accuracy.
The force applied to the sensor rotor in directions other than the direction of rotation by accelerator actuation can be broken down into the rotational direction, the support shaft direction, and the radial direction of the accelerator rotor.
In the accelerator device according to another aspect of the present invention, the accelerator rotor is prevented from shifting or deviating in the rotational direction with respect to the sensor rotor, and is engaged with the sensor rotor such that it slides in contact with it in the support shaft direction and in the radial direction of the accelerator rotor. When force is applied to the sensor rotor in a direction other than the rotational direction, even though the accelerator rotor slides in contact with the sensor rotor and the position shifts or deviates, the shift or deviation in the position of the accelerator rotor is not transmitted to the sensor rotor. Thus, the degree of accelerator opening can be detected with a high degree of accuracy.
However, it is difficult to both prevent the accelerator rotor from shifting or deviating in the direction of rotation with respect to the sensor rotor, and manufacture an engagement portion for the accelerator rotor and the sensor rotor such that the accelerator rotor and the sensor rotor slide in contact with each other in the support shaft direction and the radial direction of the accelerator rotor. In another aspect of the present invention, a plate spring is inserted into a recess portion formed in either the accelerator rotor or the sensor rotor, and a protruding portion formed in the accelerator rotor or sensor rotor not having the recess portion is engaged in the recess portion such that biasing force is received from the plate spring in the direction of rotation. Because the plate spring absorbs manufacturing errors, a high degree of manufacturing accuracy in the recess portion and the protruding portion is not necessary, and manufacturing becomes easy.
In another aspect of the present invention, more than 1 recess portion is formed in either the accelerator rotor or the sensor rotor, a plurality of protrusion portions are formed in the accelerator rotor or sensor rotor that d
Kato Yasunari
Makino Masahiro
Tamura Takahiro
Watanabe Katsumi
Denso Corporation
McCall Eric S.
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
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