AU704848B1

AU704848B1 - Device for reducing stepping force of pedal used in automobile

Info

Publication number: AU704848B1
Application number: AU42725/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chang Hyun Lee
Original assignee: Hyundai Motor Co
Current assignee: Hyundai Motor Co
Priority date: 1997-10-17
Filing date: 1997-10-17
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-17

Description

AU ST RALI.IA Patents Act CO 0M P LETE S11EC I FICATIO0N

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title.

I IYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY CI LANG I IY UN LE-E H.R. IIODGKINSON CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 3, 20 Alfred Str-e MILSONS Y'0lNT Nl ,V 2. 61 D)EVICEi FOR REDUCING STFPPING FORCE OF PEDAL USED IN AUTOMOBILE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to uis, DEVICE FOR REDUCING STEPPING FORCE OF PEDAL USED IN AUTOMOBILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a device for reducing stepping force of a clutch pedal of an automobile, and more particularly an improvement of a pedal pressing mechanism.

2. Description of the Prior Art Recently, as the reaction force of a spring within a clutch increases with rising of an output of an engine, stepping force of 2 pedal required tc operate a clutch is highly increasing. Consequently, a pedal is desired that enlarge the reduction of the stepping force as large as possible, upon operating of the clutch pedal.

A conventional device for reducing stepping force of a pedal is shown in FIGs. 6 and 7. An equalizer bar 102 is pivotally connected to a pair of support brackets 112 and 114 by means of a bolt 120, and the support brackets 112 and 114 are fixed to a chassis in perpendicular with the equalizer bar 102. A pedal arm 100 is rotatably supported on the equalizer bar 102. A coil spring 104 is installed between the support -Librackets 112 and 114 in such a manner that the coil spring can provide torsion to the brackets. The both ends 116 and 118 of the coil spring 104 are vertically bent to a right angle, and the support brackets 112 and 114 are mounted on fitting holes by bushings 108 and 110. The center portion of the coil spring 104, a swivel end 124 is also bent to a right angle, and fitted into the pedal arm 100 by a bushing 122., The coil spring 104 is rotatable around the pivotally mounting ends, so that the resilient force of the spring may be provided to the pedal arm 100.

In the conventional device as mentioned above, if a spring constant of the coil spring is enlarged if the length of the lever armn is elongated, in order to reduce stepping force, a problem may occur that the force required on its initial stepping increases. Even though the force of the coil spring is dispersed by left and right springs, the initial stepping force also increases. Accordingly, a smooth action of the pedal cannot be achieved, and the bushing is rapidly abraded by the repeated operation of the clutch pedal.

A method for reducing stepping force of a pedal in order to solve the problems involved in the above-described prior art is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 91-13779.

The device disclosed in the above publication, referring to FIG. 8, comprises a coil spring 201 consisting of a first coil portion 202. a second coil portion 204, a swivel end 206 positioned between the first and second coil portions 202 and 204, a first pivot end 208 positioned on the end of the fiist coil 202, and a second pivot end 210 positioned on the end of the second coil 204. The swivel end 206 is fixed to a spring attaching portion 212.

The first pivot end 208 is pivotally mounted on a support bracket 214 in such a manner that it is positioned near the stepping position C of the pedal more than a segment of a line A connecting a rotating center M of the pedal arm 200 with the swivel end 206 before operating of the pedal, and positioned near the return position of the pedal more than a segment of a line B connecting the rotating center MI of the pedal arm 200 with the swivel 206 after operating of the pedal.

Also, the second pivot end 210 is pivotally mounted to the support bracket 214 in such a manner that it is positioned near the segment of the line A connecting the rotating center M of the pedal arm 200 with the swivel 206 or on the return side of the pedal more than the segment of the line A.

According to the device disclosed in the publication, the coil spring force is dispersed by simply deforming the shape of the single coil spring, but the stepping force cannot be effectively reduced due to using !0 the single spring.

Accordingly, it needs a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal capable of dispersing the spring force concentrated on moving 3 portions of springs, preventing the initial undue stepping force and smoothly operating the pedal arm, by dispersing the reaction force occurring on the initial stepping, and smoothly and constantly operating the pedal arm until the last stage of the clutch pedal's operation, as well as the middle stage, by dispersing the stepping force acting on more moving portions of the coil springs.

SUNMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the problems as described above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal capable of smoothly operating the pedal at its initial stepping by reducing the pedal effort on the initial stage of the clutch pedal's operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal capable of preventing a bushing provided to the device from abrading by dispersing the stepping force acted on a coil spring.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, it provides a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal including a pair of support brackets fixed to a chassis, an equalizer bar fixed to the pair of the support brackets, and a pedal arm -4rotatably connected to the 2qualizer bar, the device comprising a lever member connected to the equalizer bar; a first spring having a first connecting portion pivotally connected to an end of the pedal arm and a second connecting portion pivotally connected to one of the support brackets; and a second spring having a third connecting portion pivotally connected to the other of the support brackets and a fourth connecting portion pivotally connected to an end of the lever member.

Preferably, a bushing is inserted into the first to fourth connecting portion, respectively.

The first and second connecting portions have different horizontal positions, the second and third connecting portions have the same horizontal position, and the third and fourth connecting portions have horizontal positions, as viewed at the side of the springs, respectively.

The connecting portions have different moving points, during the stepping operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it provides a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal including a first and second support brackets fixed to a chassis, an equalizer bar fixed to the first and second support brackets, and a pedal arm rotatably connected to the equalizer bar, the advice comprising: ~I a first and second lever members connected to both en 's of the equalizer bar; a first and second main springs provided between the first bracket and the pedal arm, and between the second bracket and the pedal arm, respectively; and a first and second auxiliary springs provided between the first lever member and the first bracket, and between the second bracket and the second lever member, respectively.

The first main spring includes a first connecting portion pivotally 1,10 connected to an end of the pedal arm, and a second connecting portion pivotally connected to the first support bracket. The second main spring includes a third connecting portion pivotally connected to the pedal arm, and a fourth connecting portion pivotally connected to an end of the second bracket.

Also, the first auxiliary spring includes a fifth connecting portion pivotally connected to the first bracket, and a sixth connecting portion pivotally connected to the first lever member. The second auxiliary spring includes a seventh connecting portion pivotally connected to the second support bracket, and a eighth connecting portion pivotally connected to the second lever member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects, other aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprising a first and second coil springs.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device for reducing stepping force of the pedal shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the operation stage of the first coil spring.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the device for reducing stepping force of the pedal shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a prior art device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. (6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of another prior art device.

I- I I _I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFIHE=PE ,EIjJETj5 BODIMII>7L Referring to FIG. 1, a device for reducing stepping force of a pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a coil spring consisting of a first and second coil springs 20 and 22. In the device for reducing stepping force of the pedal, a pair of support brackets 16 and 18 are fixed to a chassis (not shown), and a cylindrical eqializer bar 12 is connected to the brackets by a bolt 26.

Bases of a pedal arm 10 and a lever member 24 are coupled to the equalizer bar 12, respectively, such that the equalizer bar 12 will be a rotating center of the pedal arm 10 and the lever member 24. An end 28 of pedal arm 10 is formed with a spring attaching portion by cutting a portion of its end. A first coil spring 20 is provided between the -pedal arm 10 and the support bracket 18 and a second spring 22 is provided between the support bracket 18 and the lever member 24.

Each of coil springs 20 and 22 has on both ends connecting portions which are extended in a straight line, and the ends of the connecting portions are bent in a right angle to form connecting ends 32 and 34; 36 and 38, respectively.

One end, a first connecting end 32 of the first coil spring is fitted into a bushing 40 provided in the end 28 of the pedal arm 10 to form a moving portion B, and the other end 34 of the first coil spring is fitted into a bushing 42 provided in the support bracket 1S to form a swivel portion A. And, one end 3(3 of the second coil spring 22 is fitted into the bushing 42, and the other end 38 is fitted into a bushing 4.1 provided in the end of the lever member 24 to form a moving portion C.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the device for reducing stepp-ng force of the pedal arm 10 shown in FIG. 1. The second end 34 of the first coil spring 20 and the third connecting end 36 of the second coil spring 22 are coupled to the same busing 42 to position on a same point, as viewing at the side of the coil springs and 22. However, the positions of the connecting portions 32 and 34 of the first coil spring 20 differ from them of the connecting portions 36 and 38 of the second coil spring 22, as viewing at the side of the coil springs 20 and 22.

Also, the moving portion B of the end 28 of the pedal arm 10 is positioned on the right side relative to the swivel portion A as viewing at the side of the coil springs 20 and 22, and positioned on the left side relative to the moving portion C of the lever member 24. In result, the moving portions and the swivel portion are positioned in A, B, and C order from the left, as will be seen in FIG. 2. Accordingly, when the pedal arm 10 is pressed in a direction P, the moving portion B moves in a direction P' and the first coil spring 20 is compressed. At that time the moving portion B coincides with the swivel portion A (at the time two portions meet on one point as viewing at the side of the coil 9 spring), the resilient portion of the first coil spring 20 rotates in the direction X by the itself resilient force. At that time, by rotation of the equalizer bar 12 the moving portion C connected to the lever member 24 also rotates and the second coil spring 22 is compressed. At that time the moving portion C is coincident with the swivel A (at the time two portions meet on one point as viewing at the side of the coil spring), the resilient portion of the second coil spring 22 rotates in the direction Y by the itself resilient force.

In the arrangement of the above described device for reducing stepping force of the pedal, the first and second coil springs 20 and 22 are made of same material, and each moving time of the springs may be changed according to the characteristic of the pedal. Also, the position of the moving portion B of the pedal may be changed, if necessary.

The operation of the device for reducing stepping force of the pedal according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail.

When the pedal ar 10 is stepped in direction P, the first connecting end 32 of the first coil spring 20 connected to the pedal arm moves to the direction P' to apply the torsion to the spring 20. If the moving portion B of the first coil spring 20' positions on the same axis as the swivel portion A, the first coil spring 20 rotates to the direction X by the applied torsion.

Simultaneous with the pedal arm's operation, the lever menmber 21 moves to the clockwise rotation when viewing in FIG.2. The conntecting end 38 of the second coil spring 22 connected to the lever member 2.4 also moves. Accordingly, the moving portion C moves towards the swivel portion A to apply the torsior to the second coil spring 22.

When thus moved moving portion C of the second coil spring 22 positions on the same axis as the moving portion A, the first coil spring rotates to the direction Y by the applied resilient force.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, when the pedal arm rotates in the direction P, its end 28 rotates in the direction P' and the moving portion B of the first coil spring 20 rotates together with the end 28 of the pedal arm 10 intersecting in order with the segments 1, 2 and 3.

At that time, the section between the initial operating section (the segment 1) of the pedal arm 10 and the segment 2, on which the swivel portion A, the moving portion B and the rotating center 1 of the pedal arm 10 position in a straight line, the force Fa of the moving portion B tends toward the lower direction to increase the effort of the pedal. And, the section between the segment 2, on which the swivel portion A, the moving portion B and the rotating center 10 of the pedal arm 10 position in a straight line, and the segment 3, the force Fb of the moving portion B tends toward the upper diiection to decrease the effort of the pedal. That is, the section which inc.reas.e,- the effort of the pedal is determinated upon the position of the rotating center of the lever.

With the position of the rotating center 0 of the pedal arm being setting in proper, the first coil spring 20 reaches to the section "B" beyond the boundary of the segment 2 upon stepping on the pedal to solve the problem which the initial effort produced in the section is excessive. Also, the second coil spring 22 passes quickly the excessive effort to be produced on the initial operation of the pedal arm, similar to the first coil spring 20. In FIG. 3, the force Fo at the position which the swivel portion A, the rotating center 0 of the pedal arm 10 position in the straight line indicates the standard stepping force depending on the inherent resilience force of the first coil spring Because only connecting ends 32 and 38 of the first and second coil springs 20 and 22 move in its initial operation of the pedal, in other words, because the only moving portions B and C moves, the stepping force and the torsion acted on the coil springs is too smaller than the conventional mechanism. Therefore, in tl:e initial operation of the pedal, the large concentrating loads do not act on the bushings 40, 42 and 44 provided to the pivotal connecting portions of the coil springs 20 and 22.

The decreasing of the resilient force acted on the pedal arm 10 in the initial operation of the pedal allows the smooth operation to achieve.

12 Also, the dispersing of the stepping force acted on the pedal arm from the coil spring to several moving portions allows the smooth in the middle and last stages of the stepping.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device for reducing stepping force of the pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the FIG.4. in which by providing symmetrically the both sides of the pedal arm wi:h the pair of coil sprig of the first embodiment to further reduce the effort of the ped.l on stepping. The device comprises a pedal arm 50 positioned in a center of an equalizer bar 52, first and second brackets 54 and 56 fixed on a chassis (not shown) and fixed to the equalizer bar 52 at constant distance of the pedal arm 50, and first and second lever members 58 and fixed to the both ends of the equalizer bar 52.

The device also comprises a first main spring 62 pivotally connected between the pedal arm 50 and the first bracket 54., a second main spring 64 pivotally connected between the pedal arm 50 and the second bracket 56, a first auxiliary spring 66 pivotally connected between the lever member 56 and the bracket 54, a second auxiliary spring 68 pivotally connected between the lever member 58 and the bracket 56.

Each of springs 62, 64, 66 and 68 consists of a coil spring, of which has on both ends connecting portions which are extended in a straight line, and the ends of the connecting portions are bent in a right angle to I IB~e LL.

form connecting ends, respectively.

The first and second springs 62 and 64 pivotally connected to a bushing 78 provided in the end 82 of the pedal arm 50 have a moving portion C at the pivotal connecting portion connected with the pedal arm 50. The first auxiliary spring 66 has a moving portion B on one end pivotally connected to the first lever member 58 and a swivel portion A on the other end pivotally connected to the first bracket 54. The second auxiliary spring 68 connects with the second lever member 60 and the second bracket 56 to have the moving portion B and swivel portion A, similar to the first auxiliary spring 56 as described above. Each moving portions B and swivel portion A of the first and second auxiliary springs 66 and 68 is mounted on the same point, as viewing from the side of the spring. In figures reference numerals 70, 72 and 76 respectively indicate a busing.

With the above described arrangement, an initial moving point will be the moving portion C. The initial torsion acted on the moving portion C is absorbed by the main springs 62 and 64 positioned on both sides. When the moving portion C rotates and reaches to the swivel portion and when the moving portion B of both ends of the lever members 58 and 60 reach the swivel portion A, the first and second auxiliary springs 66 and 68 rotate together, and Ihe initial effort of the pedal is dispersed to the coil springs 62, 64, 66 and 68 by the same 14 effect as the first embodiment. The stepping forcQ, acted on the bushings of the pivot connections will be smaller than the initial stepping force. Also, the operation of the pedal will be smoothly, because the initial force lessens.

It would be understood that the device for reducing stepping ;:e of a pedal according to the present invention, because the spring force concentrated on moving portions of springs is dispersed, the initial stepping force can be prevented from excessive by dispersing the resilient force occurring on the initial stepping, and the pedal arm can operate smoothly and constantly until the last stage of the clutch pedal's operation, as well as the middle stage, by dispersing the stepping force acting on more moving portions of the coil springs.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art tLat various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

15

Claims

1. A device for reducing stepping force of a pedal comprising: a plurality of support brackets fixed to a chassis; an equalizer bar rotatably engaged between the plurali'y of the support brackets; a pedal arm integrally rotatable with and connected to the equalizer bar; a lever member connected to an end of the equalizer bar; a main resilient member connected between said one of the support brackets and the pedal ami; and an auxiliary resilient member connected between said one of the support brackets and the lever member.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main resilient member includes a first connecting end portion pivotally connected to an end of the pedal arm and a second connecting end portion pivotally connected to said one of the support brackets; and the auxiliary resilient member includes a third connecting end portion pivotally connected to said one of the support brackets and a fourth connecting end portion pivotally connected A to an end of the lever member. I928X JRlSJM

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second connecting end portions have different horizontal positions, the second and third connecting end portions have the same horizontal position, and the third and fourth connecting end portions have different horizontal positions, when they are viewed at the side of the resilient members, respectively.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a bushing is provided to each of the first through fourth connecting end portions.

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main auxiliary resilient members comprise a coil spring.

6. The device as clamed in claim 5, wherein the coil spring has on both ends connecting portions which are extended in a straight line, and the ends of the connecting portions are bent in a right angle to form connecting ends, respectively.

7. A device for reducing stepping force of a pecal comprising: a plurality of support brackets fixed to a chassis; an equalizer bar rotatably engaged between the plurality of the support brackets; e17 Ki.^ I 1928X JRSJM a pedal engaged integrally rotatable with the equalizer bar disposed between the support brackets; a plurality of level members connected to respective ends of the equalizer bar; a plurality of main resilient members connected between the support brackets and the pedal; and a plurality of auxiliary resilient members connected between the respective support brackets and the lever member.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of first main resilient members includes first and second main resilient members; the first main resilient member includes a first connecting end portion pivotally connected to the pedal arm, and a second connecting portion pivotally connected to a first support bracket; the second main resilient member includes a third connecting end portion pivotally connected to the pedal arm, and a fourth connecting end portion pivotally connected to an end of a second support bracket.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of auxiliary resilient members includes first and second auxiliary resilient members; I IS I')28X JRS!JM tile fir.: auxiliary resilient member includes a fifth connecting end portion pivotally connected to a first bracket, amn a sixth connecting end portion pivotally connected to a first lever member, and the second auxiliary member includes a seventh connecting end portion pivotally connected to a second support bracket, and a eighth connecting end portion pivotally connected to a second lever member.

The device as claimed in claim 9, whercin the first and third connecting end portions have the same horizontal position, the second, fourth, fifth and seventh connecting end portions have the same horizontal position, and the sixth and eighth connecting end portions have the same horizontal position, when they are viewed at a side of the resilient member, respectively.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a straight line linking the first and third connecting end portions, a straight line linking the second, fourth, fifth and seventh connecting end portions, and a straight line linking the sixth and eighth connecting end portions have different horizontal positions, when the are viewed at a side of the k l springs, respectively.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein a bushing is provided to each of the connecting end portions.

13. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main and auxiliary resilient members comprise a coil spring.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the coil spring has on both ends connecting portions which are extended in a straight line, and the ends of the connecting portions are bent in a right angle to form connecting ends, respectively. Dated this 17th day of October 1997 HYUNDAI MTTOR COMPANY BY: I Patent Attorney for th pplicant DEVICE FOR REDUCING STEPPING FORCE OF PEDAL USED IN AUTOMOBILE ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSU'RE A device for reducing stepping force of a pedal including a coil spring having at least 3 moving points. The moving points of the coil spring have different positions and operating points so that the spring force may be dispersed. Therefore, the stepping force reacted upon the pedal at an initial operation of the pedal will be decreased, and the operation of the clutch pedal will be smooth. Also, because a load is not concentrated upon the ends of the coil springs, and thus the abrasion of bushings provided in the ends of the springs ,ws down. 21