Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-10-09
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
C074S514000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to control pedal apparatuses and more particularly to adjustment means for selectively adjusting the position of one or more of the control pedals of a motor vehicle.
In a conventional automotive vehicle pedals are provided for controlling brakes and engine throttle. If the vehicle has a manual transmission a clutch pedal is also provided. These pedals are foot operated by the driver. In order for the driver to maintain the most advantageous position for working these control pedals the vehicle front seat is usually slidably mounted on a seat track with means for securing the seat along the track in a plurality of adjustment positions.
The adjustment provided by moving the seat along the seat track does not accommodate all vehicle operators due to differences in anatomical dimensions. Further, there is growing concern that the use of seat tracks, and especially long seat tracks, constitutes a safety hazard in that the seat may pull loose from the track during an accident with resultant injuries to the driver and/or passengers. Further, the use of seat tracks to adjust the seat position has the effect of positioning shorter operators extremely close to the steering wheel where they are susceptible in an accident to injury from the steering wheel or from an exploding air bag. It is therefore desirable to either eliminate the seat track entirely or shorten the seat track to an extent that it will be strong enough to retain the seat during an impact. Shortening or eliminating the seat track requires that means be provided to selectively move the various control pedals to accommodate various size drivers.
Various proposals were made over a period of many years to provide selective adjustment of the pedal positions to accommodate various size drivers but none of these proposals met with any significant commercial acceptance since the proposed mechanisms were unduly complex and expensive and/or were extremely difficult to operate and/or accomplished the required pedal adjustment only at the expense of altering other critical dimensional relationships as between the driver and the various pedals. Recently a control pedal mechanism has been developed which is simple and inexpensive and easy to operate and that accomplishes the required pedal adjustment without altering further critical dimensional relationships as between the driver and the various pedals. This control pedal mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,875,385; 4,989,474 and 5,078,024 all assigned to the assignee of the present application. The present invention represents further improvements in adjustable control pedal design and specifically relates to an adjustable control pedal apparatus which is compatible with, and incorporates, a drive-by-wire arrangement in which the link between the pedal and the associated controlled device of the motor vehicle comprises an electronic signal rather than a mechanical linkage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the provision of a simple, inexpensive and effective apparatus for adjusting the control pedals of a motor vehicle.
More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of an adjustable control pedal apparatus that is especially suitable for use in conjunction with a drive-by-wire throttle or brake control.
The invention apparatus is adapted to be mounted on the body structure of the motor vehicle and includes a carrier, guide means mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement relative to the body structure, and drive means operative to move the carrier along the guide means. According to the invention, the pedal assembly further includes a pedal structure mounted on the carrier for movement relative to the carrier and means operative in response to movement of the pedal structure on the carrier to generate an electrical signal proportioned to the extent of movement of the pedal structure on the carrier. This arrangement provides a simple and effective means of generating an electronic control signal on an adjustable pedal assembly and ensures that the ergonomics of the control pedal will not vary irrespective of the position of adjustment of the pedal structure.
According to a further feature of the invention, the pedal structure is pivotally mounted on the carrier and the electric signal is generated in response to pivotal movement of the pedal structure on the carrier. This specific arrangement retains the customary pivotal movement of the control pedal and also maintains the constant ergometric operation of the control pedal assembly.
According to a further feature of the invention, the generator means includes a potentiometer mounted on the carrier whose setting is varied in response to pivotal movement of the pedal structure on the carrier. This specific arrangement provides a simple and effective means of generating the required electronic signal to provide drive-by-wire operation.
According to a further feature of the invention, the pedal structure includes a pedal arm and a pedal mounted on a lower end of the pedal arm, and the pedal assembly further includes resistance means including a leaf spring fixedly mounted at one end thereof on the carrier and having a free end biased against an upper region of the pedal arm so as to operate to resist the pivotal movement of the pedal structure. This specific arrangement provides a simple and effective means of providing the desired feet or feedback to the operator upon movement of the pedal.
According to a further feature of the invention, the resistance means further includes a first resistance plate mounted on the upper region of the pedal arm and a second resistance plate mounted on the free end of the leaf spring and biased against the first resistance plate. This arrangement allows the resistance offered to the pivoting pedal to be varied either by varying the spring characteristics of the spring or by varying the resistance characteristics of the resistance plates.
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Bortolon Christopher
Rixon Christopher J.
Green Mary Ann
Howard & Howard
Teleflex Incorporated
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