Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Patent
1998-10-21
2000-02-22
Battista, Mary Ann
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
74560, G05G 114
Patent
active
060267062
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Brake systems are actuated, as are clutches, by pedal force with the aid of a pedal system, with the driver, for actuating the brake system, swivelling a pedal lever, thereby inserting an actuating bar into a brake system thus releasing the braking process. Pedal systems of the afore-described type have a large transmission so that a minor displacement of the actuating bar taking place in an axial longitudinal direction corresponds to a substantial angle of displacement of the pedal lever. As in a crash event, the brake units, such as master cylinder or brake force booster, can be substantially displaced, dangerous motions of displacement of the pedal lever are likely to occur. Due to the lever deflection, the driver's foot can, therefore, either be clamped against the baffle plate or guided, due to an uncontrolled deflection, into the bottom area of the vehicle which is rather narrow anyway. A deflection of the afore-described type is dangerous, especially so if the driver due to the impact anyway slips to the front end of the passenger compartment.
It has, therefore, been thought over how to avoid such a swivel movement of the pedal lever in a crash event. According to one suggestion the fact is utilized that in a crash event the actuating bar will cover a particularly large swivel angle vis-a-via the pedal lever. This fact is used to discontinue the connection between actuating bar and pedal lever in that the actuating bar is pushed out of the rotary bearing on the pedal lever, it being suggested to enable the actuating bar to be pushed laterally of the bearing bolt once a predetermined swivel angle is exceeded. To achieve this, the bearing bore of the actuating bar, laterally, is to be provided with an opening of a size sufficient to allow the bearing bolt of the pedal lever to pass the said opening under force.
According to another suggestion the rotary movement of the actuating bar is used to lift the actuating bar from the rotary bearing in a direction axial to the bearing bolt in that a force acting in that direction overcomes the bolt lock.
The conventional locking means encouter the difficulty that, under poor visual conditions, they have to be rapidly and safely mounted in the bottom part of the passenger compartment. An additional disadvantage involved with the state-of-the art systems resides in that one can never tell whether the locking means are really reliably locked.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the object of the invention to provide locking means with a system of the afore-described type, that are capable of being rapidly and safely mounted even under poor visual conditions. Basically, it is the object of the invention to avoid threading of the locking means on the actuating bar or bolt of the pedal lever by supplying the locking means pre-assembled (preferably on the actuating bar) prior to manufacturing the articulated joint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a locking device which is provided with a holding element holding the locking device before locking on the actuating bar or the actuating pedal. Frequently, it is important for the locking means not only to be rapidly arranged, under poor visual conditions, at the proper place but also to be perfectly engaged. To achieve this object the invention suggests providing spring elements on the locking means acting in opposition to the force required for the locking connection, with the said spring forces being so dimensioned that, in the event of an incomplete engagement, they lift the locking arrangement out of the incomplete locking connection, thereby causing the locking arrangement to abut the locking bolt only loosely. Only after a complete locking connection having been achieved, the spring forces cannot separate the said connection. At the same time, the spring elements can result in a snap effect insuring that the locking device be pressed, with adequate force, onto the bolt provided with locking means. If the force selected is insufficient, the locking position c
REFERENCES:
patent: 3052130 (1962-09-01), Kellogg et al.
patent: 3766802 (1973-10-01), Shellhause
patent: 4655628 (1987-04-01), Parker
patent: 4899614 (1990-02-01), Kataumi
patent: 5551317 (1996-09-01), Gautier et al.
Guther Jurgen
Jeuck Bernhard
Battista Mary Ann
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
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