Motor vehicles – With means for promoting safety of vehicle – its occupant or... – Responsive to engagement of portion of perimeter of vehicle...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2002-04-02
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
With means for promoting safety of vehicle, its occupant or...
Responsive to engagement of portion of perimeter of vehicle...
C180S282000, C074S512000, C303S020000, C303S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364046
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for activation of a safety device in a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for such activation. Still more particularly, the present invention can be applied in connection with activation of a safety device for brake pedals in motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of vehicles, such as passenger cars, it is common to use brake systems which comprise a brake pedal which is connected to a push rod, which in turn is connected to the servo mechanism of the brake system, i.e., the so-called brake booster. The brake booster is normally arranged in the rear part of the engine compartment of the vehicle.
In the event of a head-on collision, a deformation of the front part of the vehicle normally occurs. In some cases, this deformation can be so powerful that the front part is compressed, which causes the engine and other components in the engine compartment to be pressed against the brake booster with a high force. This causes the brake booster to exert a high force upon the push rod, which in turn causes the brake pedal to impart a short but intensive blow on the foot of the driver, before any deformation of the firewall takes place. In this manner, the pedal is caused to pivot into the passenger compartment of the vehicle in a direction towards the driver. This is a severe problem since the brake pedal might cause serious injuries to the feet and legs of the driver.
A known brake pedal arrangement which is intended to solve this problem is known from the Swedish Patent No. 465,769. This arrangement comprises a push rod which is pivotally arranged in the brake pedal arm and which is designed with a twisted part which can interact with side edges of the brake pedal arm. If the brake pedal arm (being, for example, affected by the brake booster in a collision) is thus pivoted more than a certain angle in relation to the push rod, the twisted part will affect the brake pedal arm so as to displace the push rod axially in a direction away from the pedal arm. In this manner, the push rod can be released from the brake pedal arm in the event of a collision.
Although this previously known arrangement functions satisfactorily in most types of collisions, there is a need to control release of the push rod from the brake pedal arm in a more active manner, for example so that it can be released even if the push rod has not been pivoted a predetermined angle in relation to the brake pedal arm. In this manner, release of the brake pedal from the push rod might take place at an earlier stage during a collision, which would provide improved protection against feet and leg injuries.
Another known arrangement of a similar kind is shown in European Patent No. 659,615. This arrangement comprises a pedal suspension with two arms, between which a pedal is pivotally suspended about a shaft. Each arm comprises a deformable part with a bearing in which the shaft is suspended. If the arrangement is affected by a predetermined force, the bearings will be detached from the shaft and the brake pedal is released. However, this arrangement implies a drawback in that it will not be activated until the drive train of the vehicle has begun to penetrate the firewall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an improved arrangement which is primarily intended for vehicles, and which provides for quick and effective release of a brake pedal from a push rod in the event of a collision. In particular, such release must take place before any part of the drive line of the vehicle has come into contact with the brake booster.
In accordance with the present invention, this and other objects have now been realized by the invention of apparatus for activation of a safety device associated with a vehicle pedal in a vehicle including a front edge, an engine compartment, a pedal arm, a push rod connected to the pedal arm, and acting means for acting upon the push rod, the apparatus comprising an actuator for releasing the push rod from the pedal arm upon actuation thereof, a sensor for actuation of the actuator in response to detection of a condition of the vehicle corresponding to a collision, the sensor being disposed in a predetermined zone within the vehicle, the predetermined zone being defined by a first distance proximate to the front edge of the vehicle and a second distance distal from the front edge of the vehicle, the first and second distances being selected whereby the predetermined zone defines a location in which deformation occurs upon a collision at at least a predetermined speed and corresponding to a time delay between a minimum time delay corresponding to the first distance and a maximum time delay corresponding to the second distance for activation of the sensor after such deformation.
In accordance with one embodiment, the vehicle includes at least one rigid body, and wherein at least one of the first and second distances is extended rearwardly in the vehicle by the intervening presence of the at least one rigid body.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the sensor comprises a hydraulic cylinder which mechanically detects the condition of the vehicle.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the sensor comprises a cable connected to the actuator, a spring member attached to the cable for biasing the cable into a first biased position in which the actuator is actuated, and a yoke element limiting movement of the cable towards the first biased position, whereby upon detection of said condition the yoke element is displaced from limiting the movement of the cable into the first biased position.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes a shaft extending from the pedal arm, the push rod including at least one opposed surface and being mounted on the shaft, the actuator comprising a pivoting member pivotally mounted on the pedal arm, the actuation of the actuator by the sensor comprising pivoting of the pivoting member, the pivoting member including at least one cam surface for interacting with the at least one opposed surface of the push rod upon pivoting of the pivoting member so as to dismount the push rod from the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting member is pivotally mounted on the shaft, whereby the dismounting of the push rod from the shaft comprises axially displacing the push rod out of engagement with the shaft.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the at least one cam surface comprises a tongue-shaped member protruding substantially perpendicularly from the pivoting member.
In accordance with the present invention, a safety device is provided for association with a vehicle pedal in a vehicle comprising a console, a pedal arm pivotally mounted with respect to the console, a push rod connected between the pedal arm and a control device for the pedal arm including at least one opposed surface, a shaft extending from the pedal arm, the push rod being pivotally mounted on the shaft, the safety device comprising a pivoting member pivotally mounted on the pedal arm, the pivoting member including at least one cam surface for interacting with the at least one opposed surface of the push rod upon pivoting of the pivoting member so as to dismount the push rod from the shaft, and an actuator for pivoting the pivoting member before any part of the engine compartment effects the push rod during a collision.
In accordance with one embodiment, the pivoting member is pivotally mounted on the shaft, whereby the dismounting of the push rod from the shaft comprises axially displacing the push rod out of engagement with the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one cam surface comprises a tongue-shaped member protruding substantially perpendicularly from the pivoting member.
In accordance with one embodiment, the sa
Forssell Jonas
Hjelmer Christer
Ivarsson Jan
Jakobsson Lotta
Lund Åse
AB Volvo
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Mai Lanna
Phan Hau
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