JPH1159220A - Acceleration pedal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure good acceleration operability by using a small umber of part items and simplifying the structure of an acceleration pedal device. SOLUTION: An acceleration pedal device is provided with a bracket 3 provided with a hole through which a support shaft 4 is inserted, the support shaft 4, which is rotatably inserted into and supported in the hole of the bracket 3, a pedal arm 2, which has an acceleration pedal 1 and is fixed to the terminal end of the support shaft 4, return spring 10, which is arranged around the support shaft 4 and energizes the pedal arm 2 in the direction opposite to the stepping direction. An acceleration opening degree sensor 11 is mounted on the bracket 3 and generates signals, which show the opening degree of an acceleration valve according to the rotary angle of the rotor 12, which is built in the bracket 3. The rotor 12 of the acceleration opening degree sensor 11 and the engaging section 22 provided at the tip of the pedal arm 2 are connected to each other through a crank mechanism. The peripheral edge section of the hole of the bracket 3 is held by the tow members, which are fitted from the outside to the support shaft 4. A turning resistance adjusting mechanism is provided to adjust the turning friction resistance of the support shaft 4 by varying the holding force of the two members.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an accelerator pedal device for an automobile, and more particularly to an accelerator pedal device provided with an accelerator opening sensor for detecting the opening of an accelerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an accelerator pedal device for electrically transmitting the opening degree of an accelerator pedal to a throttle valve without passing through a link such as a wire, an accelerator opening sensor is conventionally mounted near an accelerator pedal, and an accelerator opening sensor is provided. An accelerator pedal device having a structure in which an accelerator opening sensor is rotated according to the amount of depression is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-52541.

[0003]

In this type of conventional accelerator pedal device, an arm of the accelerator pedal is rotatably supported on a bracket via a support shaft, and a return spring is externally fitted to the support shaft. A turning portion is pivotally supported on a bracket on the distal end side of the arm, and an accelerator opening sensor is provided at an end of the turning portion by connecting a shaft. Further, a cable receiving portion is attached to the rotating portion, a cable is connected between the cable receiving portion and the pedal arm, and the rotating portion is rotated according to the amount of depression of the accelerator. It is configured to output a signal indicating the opening.

[0004] However, in this accelerator pedal device, although the pedal arm and the rotating part are connected via a wire, the accelerator pedal device is connected to a throttle valve via an accelerator wire, and the throttle of the accelerator wire is smaller than that of a normal accelerator pedal device. Since there is no dynamic resistance and the rotational resistance of the rotating part is small, there is a problem that the accelerator pedal moves too lightly. In other words, when the accelerator pedal is depressed, the rotating part moves rapidly, and the vehicle is easily accelerated. When the accelerator pedal is released, the accelerator pedal and the rotating part return rapidly, and the vehicle is decelerated. There is a problem that the vehicle is easily decelerated rapidly and the operability of the accelerator is deteriorated.

[0005] By the way, in the accelerator pedal device,
A dashpot is provided on the bracket, and when the pedal arm is returned to the idle position, the arm is applied to the dashpot, the pedal arm is gently rotated in the return direction, and the pedal arm hits the stopper in the idle position. The impact sound when the accelerator is depressed is reduced, but the operability when depressing the accelerator or partially returning the accelerator is poor,
In addition, the provision of the dash pot has a problem that the device becomes large and the number of parts increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an accelerator pedal device that can ensure good accelerator operability with a small number of parts, a simple structure, and a simple structure. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a bracket having a hole through which a support shaft is inserted, and a support rotatably inserted and supported in the hole of the bracket. A shaft, a pedal arm having an accelerator pedal and fixed to the end of the support shaft, a return spring disposed around the support shaft and biasing the pedal arm in a depressing direction, and mounted on a bracket; An accelerator opening sensor for generating a signal indicating an accelerator opening in accordance with a rotation angle of a built-in rotor; a crank mechanism for connecting the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor to an engaging portion provided at the tip of a pedal arm; A rotating resistance adjusting mechanism for sandwiching a peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket between two members externally fitted to the shaft, and adjusting a rotating frictional resistance of the support shaft by changing the sandwiching force. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket having a hole through which a support shaft is inserted, a support shaft rotatably inserted and supported in the hole of the bracket, an accelerator pedal, and a terminal end of the support shaft. And a return spring disposed around the support shaft and biasing the pedal arm in the anti-depressing direction, and a rotor connected to the end of the support shaft,
An accelerator opening sensor that generates a signal indicating an accelerator opening in accordance with the rotation angle of the rotor, and a peripheral portion of the bracket hole sandwiched between two members externally fitted to the support shaft. And a turning resistance adjusting mechanism for adjusting the turning frictional resistance of the shaft.

Here, the rotation resistance adjusting mechanism sandwiches the peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket between the bushing and the bush that is externally fitted to the support shaft, and uses a nut screwed to the end of the support shaft via a spring. The shaft cylinder may be tightened in the axial direction to adjust the pinching force of the peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket held between the shaft cylinder and the bush.

[0010]

In the accelerator pedal device according to the first aspect, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, the pedal arm rotates around the support shaft as a fulcrum against the urging force of the return spring, and the tip of the tip of the pedal arm is rotated. By the action of the crank mechanism engaged with the engagement portion, the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor rotates by an angle corresponding to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal, and a voltage signal corresponding to the amount of depression is output from the accelerator opening sensor. Is done. Also, when the driver releases his / her foot from the accelerator pedal, the pedal arm rotates in the anti-stepping direction around the support shaft by the biasing force of the return spring, and the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor rotates and rotates in the same manner as described above. A signal corresponding to the rotation angle is output.

When the support shaft is rotated when the accelerator pedal is operated, the rotation resistance adjusting mechanism sandwiches the peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket so that an appropriate frictional resistance is generated in the rotation of the support shaft. Therefore, similarly to the conventional accelerator pedal system in which the accelerator wire is connected to the throttle valve, it is possible to obtain a stable operability of the accelerator that changes gradually.

Further, the engagement portion provided at the tip of the pedal arm and the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor are linked via a crank mechanism, and the rotor of the sensor is rotated in accordance with the tilt of the pedal arm. Therefore, compared to conventional equipment,
It is not necessary to provide a rotating part or a cable receiving part directly connected to the sensor, so that the device can be downsized.In addition, since a return spring and a cable provided in the rotating part are not required, the number of parts is increased. Can be reduced.

Further, if the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor is directly connected to the support shaft as in the second aspect of the present invention, a crank mechanism and an engaging portion are not required, and the size is reduced.
The apparatus can be configured with a smaller number of parts. Further, even in the structure in which the accelerator opening sensor is directly connected to the support shaft of the pedal arm, the two members of the rotation resistance adjusting mechanism externally fitted to the support shaft sandwich the peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket. In addition, inclination of the support shaft is less likely to occur, and fluctuation of the pressing force of the brush due to blur of the rotor of the accelerator opening sensor can be prevented.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 shows a front view of the accelerator pedal device, FIG. 2 shows a left side view thereof, and FIG. 3 shows a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. The accelerator pedal device basically includes a bracket 3, a pedal arm 2 supported on the bracket 3 via a support shaft 4, an accelerator pedal 1 fixed to the pedal arm 2, and an accelerator mounted on the bracket 3. And an opening sensor 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support shaft 4 fixed at a right angle to the intermediate portion of the pedal arm 2 has a thread formed at the tip thereof.
The serration 4a is formed in the middle part on the arm 2 side, and a flange 4b is provided at the end of the serration 4a. A bush 6 made of plastic is fitted into the serration portion 4a by press-fitting so that an end thereof abuts on the flange 4b.

The bracket 3 is formed so as to have a U-shaped cross section in which both sides are bent vertically toward the front and side walls are formed, and holes for passing the support shaft 4 are formed in both side walls slightly larger in diameter than the small diameter part of the bush 6. It is drilled as a hole. The support shaft 4 is inserted into the hole from outside, and the small diameter portion of the bush 6 enters the hole of the bracket 3. At this time, a plastic shaft cylinder 5 is coaxially located in the bracket 3, the support shaft 4 is inserted into the shaft tube 5, and the external thread portion of the support shaft 4 is attached to the right side wall of the bracket 3. Protrude from the hole. A return spring 10 composed of a coil spring is provided on the outer periphery of the barrel 5.

The shaft cylinder 5 has a hole (substantially the same inner diameter as that of the bush 6) in the axial direction through which the support shaft 4 is inserted. A portion into which the small-diameter portion of the bush 6 is fitted into the left end portion, and a right end portion which will be described later. A large diameter hole for inserting the spring washer 9 and the sleeve 7 is formed. The serration 4a of the support shaft 4 is a bush 6
In the same manner as described above, it is also press-fitted into the shaft cylinder 5.

A spring washer 9 is externally fitted to the support shaft 4 and disposed in the large-diameter hole of the shaft cylinder 5. Further, a sleeve 7 is inserted from the front end side of the support shaft 4, and a nut 8 is screwed to the front end of the support shaft. The nut 8 allows the shaft cylinder 5 and the bush 6 to be connected to the bracket 3 via the sleeve 7 and the spring washer 9. Is attached so as to sandwich the peripheral portion of the hole in the side wall of.

Therefore, the rotation resistance of the support shaft 4 including the bush 6 and the shaft cylinder 5 with respect to the bracket 3 can be adjusted by the tightening amount of the nut 8. That is, nut 8
If the tightening amount of the accelerator pedal is increased, the stepping speed or the return speed of the accelerator pedal becomes slow, and if the tightening amount of the nut 8 is reduced, the stepping speed or the return speed of the accelerator pedal becomes faster. The tip end of the support shaft 4 is rotatably supported on the side wall of the bracket 3 via a sleeve 7. Return spring 1
The left end of the spring abuts on the bracket 3 and stops. The right end of the spring abuts the back side of the pedal arm 2 and the accelerator pedal 1
Is biased in the return direction.

The accelerator opening sensor 11 is fixed to the upper left wall of the bracket 3 with screws. The accelerator opening sensor 11 has a rotor 12 rotatably disposed at the center thereof and a brush 13 fixed to an inner end of the rotor 12.
On the inner wall facing 3, a sliding resistor 14 having electric resistance is provided.
Is attached, and the brush 13 comes into contact with the movement resistor 14. The left end of the rotor 12 protrudes from the hole provided in the side wall of the bracket 3 toward the pedal arm.
A crank mechanism having a crankshaft 2 is provided. That is, the crank arm 16 is fixed to the end of the rotor 12 at a right angle to its axis, the crank pin 17 is attached to the tip of the crank arm 16 in parallel with the rotor axis, and the crank pin 17 is moved back and forth in FIG. The rotor 12 is rotated.

On the other hand, the engaging portion 2
2 and the engaging portion 22 is provided with the crank pin 17.
Is engaged. The engaging portion 22 fixes the band plate 21 to the tip of the pedal arm 2, and the crank pin 17 is inserted and held in a long hole-shaped space formed between the tip of the arm 2 and the band plate 21 with a gap. Formed. The engaging portion 22 may be a completely long hole, but as in this embodiment,
May be fixed to the distal end of the arm 2 so that the distal end side is open, and the crankpin 17 may be held only at the front and rear.

With this crank mechanism, the pedal arm 2
Is tilted, the rotor 12 of the accelerator opening sensor 11 rotates according to the amount of depression of the pedal arm 2. A stopper 20 made of a synthetic resin is mounted on the bracket 3 behind the engaging portion 22, and the tip of the pedal arm 2 when not operated comes into contact with the stopper 20 and stops.

The engaging portion 22 which engages with the crank pin 17 of the crank mechanism operates when the crank pin 17 is engaged with the engaging portion 2.
In order to move inside the pin 2, a small gap is required around the pin. For this reason, when the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the output of the accelerator opening sensor 11 does not correspond for a short period of time, and even when the accelerator pedal 1 is released, the accelerator opening sensor 11 Rotor 12
Is not completely returned to the initial position (idle position) (FIG. 6).

In such a case, in a control processing circuit (microcomputer or the like) for processing the output signal of the accelerator opening sensor 11, when the sensor output voltage at the time when the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed is lower than a predetermined value, the input signal is A dead zone in which no processing is performed may be set, and a control area may be set after the dead zone (FIG. 6).

This accelerator pedal device is attached to the lower part of the driver's seat by fixing the bracket 3 with a fixing screw or the like, similarly to a normal automobile. And a throttle valve driving device is connected to an output side of the control processing circuit. By adjusting the amount of tightening of the nut 8, the rotational resistance of the support shaft 4 is adjusted, and the depressing speed and the returning speed of the accelerator pedal become the same speed as, for example, an accelerator pedal device using a normal accelerator wire. Is adjusted as follows.

When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 1,
The pedal arm 2 rotates together with the support shaft 4 against the urging force of the return spring 10. At this time, the tip of the pedal arm 2 tilts in the direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal is depressed, that is, in the forward direction in FIG. 1, and the crank pin 17 and the crank arm 16 engaged with the engaging portion 22 at the tip cause the crank arm 17 to operate. The shaft rotor 12 rotates clockwise in FIG. The rotor 12 of the accelerator opening sensor 11 rotates by an angle corresponding to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 1, and the brush 13 attached to the rotor 12 slides on the sliding resistor 14 to reduce the amount of depression. A corresponding voltage signal is output from the accelerator opening sensor 11, and the sensor output signal is used for drive control of the throttle valve.

On the other hand, when the driver releases his / her foot from the accelerator pedal 1, the pedal arm 2 rotates in the counter-depressing direction about the support shaft 4 by the urging force of the return spring 10. At this time, the operation of the crank pin 17 and the crank arm 16 engaged with the engaging portion 22 at the tip of the pedal arm 2 causes the rotor 12 forming the crank shaft to rotate. The rotor 12 of the accelerator opening sensor 11 rotates by an angle corresponding to the return amount of the accelerator pedal 1, and the brush 13 attached to the rotor 12 slides on the sliding resistor 14 so that the return amount is reduced. A corresponding voltage signal is output from the accelerator opening sensor 11.

During operation of the accelerator pedal, when the support shaft 4 rotates, the peripheral edge of the hole in the side wall of the bracket 3 is pinched by the bush 6 and the shaft cylinder 5. Since the rotational frictional resistance between the holding surface and the contact surface of the bracket is adjusted to an appropriate value by the amount of tightening of the nut 8, the operability of the accelerator pedal 1 is well maintained.

Further, a return spring 10 is externally fitted to the support shaft 4 of the pedal arm 2, and an engaging portion 22 provided at the tip of the pedal arm 2 is linked to the rotor 12 of the accelerator opening sensor 11 via a crank mechanism. Therefore, the structure of the accelerator pedal device can be made simpler than before, and one return spring 1
The accelerator pedal device can be operated with only 0.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment. In the accelerator pedal device of this embodiment, the rotor 42 of the accelerator opening sensor 41 is directly connected to the tip of the support shaft 34, and the other structures are the same as those described above. This is almost the same as the embodiment. That is,
A support shaft 34 fixed at a right angle to the intermediate portion of the pedal arm 32
Is formed by providing a screw and a connecting portion at the tip, providing a serration portion 34a at an intermediate portion on the arm side, and providing a flange 34b at an end of the serration 34a. A bush 36 made of plastic is press-fitted into the serration portion 34a, and is externally fitted and fixed in a state where its end portion is in contact with the flange 34b.

The bracket 33 has a U-shaped cross section.
Holes for passing the support shaft 34 are formed in both side walls.
The support shaft 34 is inserted into the hole from outside, and the bush 36
The small-diameter portion enters the hole of the bracket 33. At this time, a plastic shaft cylinder 35 is coaxially located in the bracket 33, the support shaft 34 is inserted through the shaft cylinder 35, and the external thread and the connecting portion of the tip of the support shaft 34 are located on the right side of the bracket 33. It protrudes from the hole in the side wall. A return spring 40 made of a coil spring is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft cylinder 35.

The shaft cylinder 35 has a hole in the axial direction through which the support shaft 34 is inserted, and a portion for inserting the small diameter portion of the bush 36 at the left end, and a spring washer 39 and a sleeve 37 at the right end. A large diameter hole is formed. The serration portion 34a of the support shaft 34 is pressed into the shaft cylinder 35 as well as the bush 36.

A spring washer 39 is externally fitted on the support shaft 34 and disposed in the large-diameter hole of the shaft cylinder 35. Further, a sleeve 37 is inserted from the front end side of the support shaft 34, and a nut 38 is screwed into the front end of the support shaft. The nut 38 allows the shaft cylinder 35 and the bush 36 to be connected to the bracket 33 via the sleeve 37 and the spring washer 39. Is attached so as to sandwich the peripheral portion of the hole in the side wall of.

The rotation resistance of the support shaft 34 including the bush 36 and the shaft cylinder 35 with respect to the bracket 33 is adjusted by the tightening amount of the nut 38. That is, if the tightening amount of the nut 38 is increased, the stepping speed or the return speed of the accelerator pedal becomes slow, and if the tightening amount of the nut 38 is reduced, the stepping speed or the return speed of the accelerator pedal is increased. . The tip end of the support shaft 34 is rotatably supported on the side wall of the bracket 33 via a sleeve 37. Return spring 4
The left end of 0 abuts on the bracket 33 and stops, the right end of the spring abuts the back side of the pedal arm 32, and the accelerator pedal 31 is urged in the return direction.

The accelerator opening sensor 41 includes a bracket 3
3 is fixed to the right side wall with screws or the like so as to cover the distal end of the support shaft 34 protruding rightward therefrom. The accelerator opening sensor 41 has a rotor 42 rotatably disposed at the tip end of a support shaft 34, a brush 43 fixed to a part of the rotor 42, and an inner wall facing the brush 43 having electric resistance. A dynamic resistor 44 is attached, and the brush 43 contacts the rotary resistor 44. The shaft center of the rotor 42 is connected and fixed to the tip of the support shaft 34, and the rotation of the support shaft 34
Rotates. 45 is a cover on the right side of the accelerator opening sensor 41, and 48 is a connector part of the sensor.

In this accelerator pedal device as well, the rotation resistance of the support shaft 34 is adjusted by changing the amount of tightening of the nut 38 and the accelerator pedal 31 as in the above embodiment.
Is adjusted so that the depressing speed and the returning speed are the same as those of, for example, an accelerator pedal device using a normal accelerator wire.

When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 31, the pedal arm 32 and the support shaft 34 are returned together with the return spring 40.
Pivots against the biasing force of. Accordingly, the rotor 42 of the accelerator opening degree sensor 41 rotates by the same angle as the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 31, and the brush 43 attached to the rotor 42 slides on the sliding resistor 44, thereby depressing the depression amount. Is output from the accelerator opening sensor 41, and the sensor output signal is used for drive control of the throttle valve.

When the driver releases his / her foot from the accelerator pedal 1, the pedal arm 32 and the support shaft 34 rotate in the counter-stepping direction by the biasing force of the return spring 40, and the rotor 42 of the accelerator opening sensor 41 The brush 43 that rotates by the same angle as the return amount of the pedal 31 and is attached to the rotor 42
As a result, the voltage signal corresponding to the return amount is output from the accelerator opening sensor 41.

In this embodiment as well, when the support shaft 34 is rotated when the accelerator pedal is operated, the bush 36 and the shaft cylinder 3 are rotated.
5, the peripheral edge of the hole in the side wall of the bracket 33 is pinched, and the pinching force, that is, the rotational frictional resistance between the pinching surface of the bush 36 and the shaft cylinder 35 and the contact surface of the bracket is determined by the amount of tightening of the nut 38. Since it is adjusted to an appropriate value, the operability of the accelerator pedal 31 is favorably maintained.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the rotor 42 of the accelerator opening sensor 41 is directly connected to the support shaft 34, a crank mechanism and an engaging portion are not required, and the size is reduced.
The apparatus can be configured with a smaller number of parts. Further, even in the structure in which the accelerator opening sensor 41 is directly connected to the support shaft 34 of the pedal arm 32, the bush 36 and the shaft cylinder 35 fitted to the support shaft 34 sandwich the peripheral edge of the hole of the bracket 33. Because of the rotation, the support shaft 34 is hardly tilted, and the fluctuation of the pressing force of the brush 43 due to the shake of the rotor 42 of the accelerator opening sensor 41 can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an accelerator pedal device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the accelerator pedal device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a spindle portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a depression amount and a sensor output voltage.

FIG. 7 is a front view with a cross section of an accelerator pedal device showing another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the accelerator pedal device with a cover removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Accelerator pedal 2-Pedal arm 3-Bracket 4-Support shaft 5-Axle cylinder 6-Bush 10-Return spring 11-Accelerator opening sensor 12-Rotor 16-Crank arm 17-Crank pin 22-Engagement part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hitoshi Takeuchi 1-1, Kyowa-cho, Obu City, Aichi Prefecture 1 Ai San Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sumio Ito 52 No. 2 Inside Ohashi Iron Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bracket having a hole through which a support shaft is inserted, a support shaft rotatably inserted and supported in the hole of the bracket, and a pedal fixed to an end of the support shaft and having an accelerator pedal. An arm, a return spring disposed around the support shaft and biasing the pedal arm in a counter-depressing direction, and a signal indicating the accelerator opening according to the rotation angle of the built-in rotor mounted on the bracket. An accelerator opening sensor that generates the following; a crank mechanism that connects a rotor of the accelerator opening sensor with an engaging portion provided at a tip of the pedal arm; and a crank mechanism that is externally fitted to the support shaft. An accelerator pedal device, comprising: a rotation resistance adjusting mechanism that sandwiches a peripheral edge portion of a hole of the bracket and adjusts a rotation frictional resistance of the support shaft by changing the sandwiching force. 2. A bracket having a hole through which a support shaft is inserted, a support shaft rotatably inserted and supported in the hole of the bracket, and a pedal fixed to an end of the support shaft and having an accelerator pedal. An arm, a return spring disposed around the support shaft and for urging the pedal arm in a counter-depressing direction, and a rotor connected to an end of the support shaft, according to a rotation angle of the rotor. An accelerator opening sensor for generating a signal indicative of an accelerator opening, and a peripheral portion of the hole of the bracket interposed between two members externally fitted to the support shaft, and the pinch force is changed to change the rotational friction of the support shaft. An accelerator pedal device comprising: a turning resistance adjusting mechanism for adjusting a resistance. 3. The rotation resistance adjusting mechanism includes a bushing and a bush that is externally fitted to the support shaft, sandwiches a peripheral edge of a hole of the bracket, and uses a nut screwed to an end of the support shaft. The accelerator pedal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft cylinder is tightened in an axial direction via the bush, and a pinching force of a peripheral portion of a hole of a bracket to be held between the shaft cylinder and the bush is adjusted.