GB1562803A

GB1562803A - Control device having an adjustable control member

Info

Publication number: GB1562803A
Application number: GB3304376A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wabco Westinghouse GmbH Germany
Current assignee: Wabco Westinghouse GmbH Germany
Priority date: 1975-08-08
Filing date: 1976-08-09
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: FR2320599B1; JPS5914761B2; DE2535420C3; DE2535420A1; IT1062218B; DE2535420B2; FR2320599A1; JPS5221590A

Description

(54) CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE CONTROL MEMBER (71) We, WAsco WESTINGHOUSE G.m.b.H., a Company organised according to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of 3000 Hannover 91, Postfach 9112 80, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention concerns a control device with a control member, which can be adjusted. The adjustment may provide different angular positions for the member and/or different force transmission ratios between the member and the device.The invention is applicable especially to foot pedals for the purpose of foot control of braking and steering apparatus of vehicles and for the purpose of controlling machines but is not limited to such application.

In the case of control device of this kind it is necessary to choose the inclination of the foot pedal, so as to locate the pedal in a predetermined position relative to, for example, a flooring plate, so that the pedal is comfortable and easy to use. It is also desirable to be able to adjust the leverage of the pedal so as to co-ordinate the forces able to be applied to the pedal with the requirements of the control device.

To satisfy this requirement for the combination in each case of angle and transmission ratio, it is known to produce different components matched to the individual case. However, this requires the keeping of an extensive stock and the manufacturing costs for a plurality of different components with different angular adjustments and transmission ratios can be very high.

It is an object of the invention to render possible the angular adjustment and in somQ instances also the alteration of the free transmission ratio in a simple manner by reasonably priced and few components.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a control device with a control member pivoted on a shaft and capable of angular adjustment, wherein between a part of the control member and an actuating element of the control device there are provided a spacer piece and pressure piece means which together determine the spacing between the part of the control member and the actuating element, the pressure piece means having at least two groups of recesses, the recesses of each group being of the same depth but of different depth from each other group of recesses, and the spacer piece fitting into a group of recesses so that different groups of recesses produce different spacings between the part of the control member and the actuating element.

The member may be a lever or a pedal.

The pressure piece means may include two pressure pieces, each with a plurality of grooves of different depth, so that the spacer piece fits into a groove in each pressure piece. The grooves may be so arranged that different pairs of grooves are engaged by the spacer piece when in different lateral positions. The pressure pieces may be hinged on the control member.

The pressure piece means may also include an abutment means which presses against the actuating element when the control member is operated. The abutment means may have different positions relative to a pivot of the control member so as to provide different leverages or force transmission ratios. If two pressure pieces are provided they may be arranged to provide a first recess for the abutment means when the pressure pieces are in first relative positions, and a second recess for the abutment means when the pressure pieces are transposed. The abutment means may be a roller.

The advantages provided by the inven tion include particularly a considerable reduction in the number of components needed to provide adjustment of the position of the control member and/or its leverage.

In order that the invention may now be fully understood and readily carried into effect an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described in more detail.

In the drLwings:- Figure 1 shows a general view of a control device and control member partly in section; Figure 2 represents a portion of the components of Figure 1 which can provide the angular adjustment and the alteration of leverage; Figure 3 shows the schematic representation of the position of the control member without a spacer piece; Figure 4 shows the schematic representation of some of the arrangements of the spacer piece corresponding to the different angled positions of the control member; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the control member along the intersecting line A-A; and Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the control member along the intersecting line B-B.

Referring to the drawings, a control device 1 with a control member 2 in the form of a pedal mounted pivotally on bearing stands 8 on a support plate 7 are shown.

Between the control member 2 and an actuating element 11 there are provided two pressure pieces 3 and 4, the pressure pieces 3 and 4 being pivotally mounted on a common shaft 9 which is mounted in the bearing stands 8. The control member 2 is pivotally mounted on the pressure pieces 3 and 4, although it could equally well be mounted directly on the shaft 9.

A safety washer or circlip 10 is clipped on the shaft 9 centrally between the pressure pieces 3 and 4, which holds the shaft 9 against lateral displacement.

The pressure pieces 3 and 4 each have several grooves 3a, 3b, 3c and 4a, 4b, 4c of different depths, the grooves 3a and 4a having the same depth, as do the grooves 3b and 4b and so on. Into an associated pair of grooves 3a, 4a; 3b, 4b; or 3c, 4c, in the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are inserted the ends of a U-shaped spacer piece 5, which influences the inclination of the control member 2. Depending on which of the associated pairs of grooves 3z, 4a, etc., the spacer piece is inserted so the inclination of the control member 2 is varied.

Beneath the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are provided shaped holding edges 6a which hold a roller 6 at a radial distance X (Figure 2) from the axis of rotation of the shaft 9. The roller 6 acts as an abutment which acts against the actuating element 11 when the control member 2 is depressed.

On the outer longitudinal sides of the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are provided other holding edges 6b similar to 6a (which are not operational in the drawings), which, when the pressure pieces 3 and 4 are transposed are then located on the inner longitudinal sides of the pieces 3 and 4 and are able to receive the roller 6 according to the drawing in Figure 5, so that the roller 6 is now at a radial distance Y from the axis of rotation of the shaft 9, so changing the leverage or force transmission ratio of the device. When the pressure pieces 3 and 4 are transposed the holding edges 6a lie on the outer sides and cannot hold the roller 6.

Upon the transposition of the pressure pieces 3 and 4 the sequence as well as the spacing and depth of the grooves 3a, 3b, 3c and 4a, 4b, 4c of varying depths are unchanged; only the transmission ratio is altered.

If it is required to change the angular position of the control member 2, four alternative angles I to IV can be obtained by completely removing the spacer piece 5 as shown in Figure 3 to give a very small adjustment angle I, or by lateral displacement of the spacer piece 5 into associated pairs of grooves 3a, 4a; 3b, 4b; 3c, 4c, each par having different depth, giving larger adjustment angles II to IV, as shown in Figure 4. A different range of adjustment angles (except for angle I) could be provided simply by substituting an alternative spacer piece 5.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A control device with a control member pivoted on a shaft and capable of angular adjustment, wherein between a part of the control member and an actuating element of the control device there are provided a spacer piece and pressure piece means which together determine the spacing between the part of the control member and the actuating element, the pressure piece means having at least two groups of recesses, the recesses of each group being of the same depth but of different depth from each other group of recesses, and the spacer piece fitting into a group of recesses so that different groups of recesses produce different spacings between the part of the control member and the actuating element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure piece means is pivoted on the shaft.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the pressure piece means includes two pressure pieces, each with a plurality of grooves of different depth forming the recesses, corresponding grooves on the two

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion include particularly a considerable reduction in the number of components needed to provide adjustment of the position of the control member and/or its leverage. In order that the invention may now be fully understood and readily carried into effect an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described in more detail. In the drLwings:- Figure 1 shows a general view of a control device and control member partly in section; Figure 2 represents a portion of the components of Figure 1 which can provide the angular adjustment and the alteration of leverage; Figure 3 shows the schematic representation of the position of the control member without a spacer piece; Figure 4 shows the schematic representation of some of the arrangements of the spacer piece corresponding to the different angled positions of the control member; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the control member along the intersecting line A-A; and Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the control member along the intersecting line B-B. Referring to the drawings, a control device 1 with a control member 2 in the form of a pedal mounted pivotally on bearing stands 8 on a support plate 7 are shown. Between the control member 2 and an actuating element 11 there are provided two pressure pieces 3 and 4, the pressure pieces 3 and 4 being pivotally mounted on a common shaft 9 which is mounted in the bearing stands 8. The control member 2 is pivotally mounted on the pressure pieces 3 and 4, although it could equally well be mounted directly on the shaft 9. A safety washer or circlip 10 is clipped on the shaft 9 centrally between the pressure pieces 3 and 4, which holds the shaft 9 against lateral displacement. The pressure pieces 3 and 4 each have several grooves 3a, 3b, 3c and 4a, 4b, 4c of different depths, the grooves 3a and 4a having the same depth, as do the grooves 3b and 4b and so on. Into an associated pair of grooves 3a, 4a; 3b, 4b; or 3c, 4c, in the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are inserted the ends of a U-shaped spacer piece 5, which influences the inclination of the control member 2. Depending on which of the associated pairs of grooves 3z, 4a, etc., the spacer piece is inserted so the inclination of the control member 2 is varied. Beneath the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are provided shaped holding edges 6a which hold a roller 6 at a radial distance X (Figure 2) from the axis of rotation of the shaft 9. The roller 6 acts as an abutment which acts against the actuating element 11 when the control member 2 is depressed. On the outer longitudinal sides of the pressure pieces 3 and 4 there are provided other holding edges 6b similar to 6a (which are not operational in the drawings), which, when the pressure pieces 3 and 4 are transposed are then located on the inner longitudinal sides of the pieces 3 and 4 and are able to receive the roller 6 according to the drawing in Figure 5, so that the roller 6 is now at a radial distance Y from the axis of rotation of the shaft 9, so changing the leverage or force transmission ratio of the device. When the pressure pieces 3 and 4 are transposed the holding edges 6a lie on the outer sides and cannot hold the roller 6. Upon the transposition of the pressure pieces 3 and 4 the sequence as well as the spacing and depth of the grooves 3a, 3b, 3c and 4a, 4b, 4c of varying depths are unchanged; only the transmission ratio is altered. If it is required to change the angular position of the control member 2, four alternative angles I to IV can be obtained by completely removing the spacer piece 5 as shown in Figure 3 to give a very small adjustment angle I, or by lateral displacement of the spacer piece 5 into associated pairs of grooves 3a, 4a; 3b, 4b; 3c, 4c, each par having different depth, giving larger adjustment angles II to IV, as shown in Figure 4. A different range of adjustment angles (except for angle I) could be provided simply by substituting an alternative spacer piece 5. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A control device with a control member pivoted on a shaft and capable of angular adjustment, wherein between a part of the control member and an actuating element of the control device there are provided a spacer piece and pressure piece means which together determine the spacing between the part of the control member and the actuating element, the pressure piece means having at least two groups of recesses, the recesses of each group being of the same depth but of different depth from each other group of recesses, and the spacer piece fitting into a group of recesses so that different groups of recesses produce different spacings between the part of the control member and the actuating element.

pieces forming a group of recesses, the grooves being such that the spacer piece fits into corresponding grooves in the two pressure pieces.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the spacer piece is U-shaped.

5. A device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the pressure piece means is pivoted directly on the shaft and the control member is pivoted on the pressure piece means coaxially with the shaft.

6. A device according to anyof claims I to 5, wherein the pressure piece means includes an abutment means which presses against the actuating element when the control member is operated, the abutment means having different positions relative to the shaft on which the control member is pivoted so as to provide different leverages.

7. A device according to claim 6 including two pressure pieces which are arranged so that when the pieces are in one position a first recess for the abutment means is provided and when the pieces are transposed a second recess for the abutment means is provided.

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the abutment means is a roller and the pressure piece means is so shaped that the roller is retained by the pressure piece means.

9. A device according to claim 3 or any of claims 4 to 8 and including the feature of claim 3 wherein a circlip is fitted on to the shaft between the two pressure pieces to hold the shaft against axial displacement.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the control member is a pedal.

11. A device according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the control member is a lever.

12. A control device with a control member substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.