GB1574712A

GB1574712A - Pedal operated mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB1574712A
Application number: GB268176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Teleflex Morse Ltd
Current assignee: Teleflex Morse Ltd
Priority date: 1976-01-23
Filing date: 1976-01-23
Publication date: 1980-09-10

Description

(54) PEDAL OPERATED MECHANISMS (71) We, TELEFLEX MORSE LIMITED, a British company, of Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3ES., 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: This invention relates to pedal operated mechanisms.

Pedal operated mechanisms when used, say,, for heavy operator's plant such as 'on highway vehicles like trucks or 'off highway' equipment, for example, cranes, excavating machinery, earth moving equipment, concrete mixers and heavy fork trucks, have tended to be somewhat complex having regard to the diversity of equip.

ment for which they are intended. Thus, when the engine throttle is to be the controlled member, it can be that the power unit, in dependence on the nature of the piece of equipment concerned, can be remote from the driver's position and be positioned at the front or the rear of the vehicle as well as in a mid-position.

As a further complicating factor, the engine in relation to the control pedal could well not be in the same vertical plane but considerably offset horizontally. Furthermore, vehicles with right or left hand drive provide further problems. Yet again, the vertical height of the control pedal from the throttle could be very different having regard to the particular nature of the vehicle concerned.

For these reasons, standard pedal operated mechanisms utilizable with a number of differ ent vehicles have not, so far as is known to us, been developed in the past, but rather the art has seen the incorporation of "one-off" pedal control mechanisms adapted for the particular application. Moreover, when such mechanisms employ linkage rods between the pedal and the member to be controlled, somewhat complicated systems have resulted according to the relative positioning of those operator and operating components respectively.

Whilst the foregoing discussion has been confined when being specific to the control of engine throttles, the provision of a mechanical control from a pedal to the clutch involves similar problems.

We have developed a pedal operated mechanism which is more flexible in its application to any known to us previously.

The invention (whose scope is defined in the appended claims) includes a pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for fixing the pedal in a particular position to a support structure such that (in one orientation of the mechanism) the pedal is pivotal relative to the structure in a vertical plane, an output means adapted for operative connection to a link element, and connection means operatively connecting the pedal and the output means that the output means will move the link element, when operatively connected thereto, upon pivotal movement of the pedal, the mechanism being such that when the pedal is fixed by the fixing means in said particular position to the support structure the output means can be swivelled in a horizontal plane about an axis relative to the fixed pedal (considered in said one orientation of the mechanism) without affecting the ability of the pedal to pivot or the operative connection between the pedal and the output means, into any of a plurality of angular positions in said horizontal plane such that, in use, the link element can extend in any path complementary to that angular position into which the output means is swivelled.

The invention also includes a pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for mounting the pedal to a support structure so that the pedal can pivot relative to the support structure in a vertical plane but is fixed against movement relative to the support structure in a horizontal plane (considered in one orientation of said mechanism), a pivotal lever adapted for operative connection to a link element, a rod means pivotally connected at its opposite ends with said pedal and lever respectively, a hollow post between said pedal and said lever and into which said rod means extends to interconnect said pedal and said lever, said hollow post providing a bearing surface having an axis, and means engaging said bearing surface and in connection with said lever by which to mount said lever for swivel adjustment in a horizontal plane (considered in said one orientation of said mechanism) about said axis and relative to said pedal, when said pedal is mounted by said mounting means to the support structure, into any number of angular positions about said swivel in which selected angular position said lever can be fixed, such that the link element can extend in any path complementary to the angular position in which the lever is adjusted, the rod means maintaining an operative connection between the pedal and the lever such that pivotal movement of the pedal will pivot the lever to move the link element when operatively connected to the lever in whatever angular position the lever is adjusted.

The invention further includes a pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, rod and lever in which the pedal pivots about an axis to move the rod to move the lever, a first mounting means for mounting the pedal on a support structure so that the pedal is fixed in a particular position to the support structure in which position the pedal can pivot about said axis, a second mounting means mounting the lever, and means between the two mounting means enabling the position of the second mounting means and hence the lever to be adjusted with respect to the first mounting means and hence to the pedal, when the pedal is mounted by the first mounting means in said particular position on the support structure, along an arc centred about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the pedal pivots, whereby, in use of said mechanism, a link element may be routed to the lever from any of a number of orientations angualrly displaced from one another around said axis about which the second mounting means can be adjusted.

In use of a preferred pedal operated mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, with the pedal mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a mechanism connecting the pedal to a linearly movable control cable can be swivelled through 360pin a horizontal plane to position the control cable in any required angular attitude relative to the member to which it is to impart control motion. If the control cable is resiliently deformable and thus able to be flexed in a vertical plane, the entire arrangement cannot only accommodate for horizontal 'misalignment' between the pedal and the member it is to control but also cater for differing vertical spacings therebetween. To enhance the latter characteristic, it is envisaged that the mechanism would provide for attachment of the control cable at a number of different attitudes of vertical "attack" thereto.

In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a pedal operated mechanism; Figure 2 is a section along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underplan view of the same pedal operated mechanism but deficient of the pedal thereof; Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a pictoriaL view of an alternative pedal operated mechanism albeit constructed generally similarly in its "essential" features to that of the preceding Figures: Figure 6 is a plan view of a third pedal operated mechanism; Figure 7 is a section along line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a part cut-away view with certain parts removed of the pedal operated mechanism of Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a section along line IX-IX of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 9, of a fourth operated mechanism.

Figure 11 is a scrap section corresponding to Figure 10, of a fifth pedal operated mechanism; and Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 9, of a sixth pedal operated mechanism.

In the various Figures, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring first to the pedal mechanism of Figures 1 to 4, a pedal 1, dished to allow the insertion ot a foot thereinto, has a depending flange 2 integral therewith through which passes a pin 3 which attaches the pedal to a hollow post 4 for pivotal motion in a vertical plane about the horizontal longitudinal axis 5 of the pivot pin. A pair of bushes 6, as of nylon, bearingly receive the pivot pin 3 and are themselves housed in a bore in the post 4, and the pin is held in position in the flange 2 by menas of a radial peg 7 and against withdrawel from the post by a circlip 8.

Forward of the pivot axis 5 of the pedal 1, a lug 9 is attached as by screws 10 to the underside of the pedal. A forked upper end 11 of an end fitting 12 is secured about a lower central flat region 13 of the lug 9 by a horizontal pivot pin 14, so that relative pivotal movement can occur between the end fitting and the lug avout the axis 1 4a of the pivot pin itself held in position as by circlips (not shown), and the lower end 15 of that end fitting is screwed on to a substantially vertical rod 16 which passes centrally through the hollow interior of the post 4. Intermediate of its ends, the post 4 has an integral collar 17 by which to be bolted at 18 to a mounting panel 19 of a vehicle fitted with the pedal operated mechanism. The rod 16 passes generally vertically downwardly within the post 4 and through a flexible dust seal 20 serving to precent ingress of extraneous matter to the lower part of the mechanism (and the upper part thereof) now to be described.

To the lower end of the rod 16 is screwed a second end fitting 12 shaped similarly to that first mentioned, the forked end 11 of which is attached by a horizontal pivot pin 21 to a bell crank lever 22. In turn, the lever 22 is connectec for swinging movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot post 23 suitably affixed to a plate 24, a pair of collars 25,26 being mounted about the post 23 on opposite sides of the lever 22 with the outer collar 26 retained in position by a circlip 27. The lower end of the bell crank 22 is affixed at 28 to a flexible control cable 29 whose remote end is attached to the member to be controlled of the vehicle, in this case the throttle control.

Each end fitting 12 is constructed of two pieces capable of pivotal movement relative to one another around an arcuate surface 30a.

The effect of this, in conjunction with the geometric arrangement described, is that when foot pressure is applied to the pedal 1 forwardly of the pivot axis 5 thereof, the rod 16 is urged downwardly to cause through the pivot pin 21 the bell crank lever 22 to swing anticlockwise about the pivot post 23 and so urge the core of the cable 29 (as will be explained) to translate and so effect a control movement over the throttle control.

Upon removal of the foot pressure applied to the pedal 1, the movable components of the pedal mechanism are returned to their original position by the bias applied by a return spring 30, one end of which is hooked around a pivot post 31 affixed to the bell crank lever 22 and the other end of which is engaged about a pin 32 secured to the plate 24. Whilst convenient to have the spring so positioned, the mechanism could incorporate, instead, a return spring at, say, the control throttle itself to return the cable core and hence, through the bell crank lever 22, the pedal mechanism to the condition shown in full lines on Figure 4.

As depicted, the pedal mechanism is mounted through the flange 17 on a horizontal surface being the mounting panel 19 with the hollow post 4 extending with the rod 16 vertically and with the cable 29 leading horizontally from the bell crank lever 22.

Whilst the cable 29 is shown as extending in a leftward direction as viewed in Figure 4 the construction of such that cable entry to the bell crank lever 22 can be afforded at any angle in the horizontal plane, as depicted in Figure 3.

To that end, the lower end of the hollow post 4 in its reduced diameter region 33 is embraced by a U-bolt 34 the threaded ends of which pass through the plate 24 to be secured thereto by nuts 35 bearing on washers 36, a U-shaped cross section support part 37 being mounted on the ends of the U-bolt 34 to embrace the back half of the periphery of the hollow post 4. By releasing the nuts 35, the plate 24 together with all the components attached thereto can be swung with the U-bolt 34 about the vertical axis of the hollow post 4 without affecting the operation of the orientation of the pedal I,the lower end fitting 12 merely being turned about the vertical rod 16. It is, essentially, the generally vertical alignment of the upper and lower pivots 14 and 21 respectively operatively associated with the pedal 1 and the bell crank lever 22 which make the infinite adjustment in the horizontal plane of those operative compqnents of the pedal mechanism mounted below the mounting panel 19, possible, coupled, of course, with the concentricity of the post region 33, about which the adjusting swivel motion takes place, with the vertical rod 16.

The flexibility of the pedal mechanism will now be apparent. Whetever the spacing between the driver's position and, in a horizontal direction, whether longitudinally or laterally of the vehicle, the engine, the cable length can be chosen to suit and the plate 24 can be swung in a horizontal plane without affecting the pedal or the mechanism immediately connected thereto to align the cable with the throttle control. Moreover, the cable would preferably be flexible to permit a degree of vertical adjustment thereof.

The angular attitude of the pedal 1 can be adjusted as required by screwing either the top o or bottom end fitting 12 along the vertical rod 16. Only one such end fitting need incorporate a screw thread mounting for this purpose.

The cable construction could be any suitable form as marketed by the Applicant company.

In the present instance, since the cable is only to take a tensile loading it could be a pull-pull cable. Alternatively, where the cable is to be subjected to a compression as well as a tensile force, it would be a push-pull cable. The latter could occur in the event of the pedal pivot being arranged so that a downward foot pressure applied to the forward end of the pedal urged the vertical rod downlwardly and so effected a pull on the cable core to the throttle control and so that a downward foot pressure applied to the rearward end of the pedal caused the vertical rod to lift and so through another cable connected by a suitable lever means associated with the vertical rod (the pull-pull cable being rendered effectively inoperative upon such lift motion of the vertical rod) operate a control requiring a degree of compression in the cable. The arrangement described, as will be appreciated, envisages a dual control pedal arrangement.

In the present instance, as said, the pull-pull cable can take any standard form as marketed by us. Thus, as illustrated, the casing 38 of the cable 29 is clamped by a U-clamp 39 to the plate 24 within suitable guide members 40, and the core (not shown) extends through an elastomeric bellows seal 41 within which it is secured to a rod construction 42 connected via a ball joint arrangement 43 to the point of attachment 28 with the bell crank lever 22.

As will be realized, there is much in the described and illustrated embodiment which could be altered and yet which would still give the required degree of flexibility required of the pedal mechanism. Thus, referring now tc Figure 5 which shows but one alternative, whilst the essential character of the previous embodiment has been retained, the plate 24, in particular, takes a very different form and comprises an angled mounting bracket 44 iccorporating an integral collar 45 which is mounted about the lower end of the hollow post 4 and which would be affixed in any desired angular position relative thereto by any suitable means (not shown).

As another alternative, the hollow post might not be circular but polygonal to give a definite rather than an infinite number of angular adjustments.

Yet again, the vehicle might incorporate a suitable plate or mounting bracket structure which could be adapted to accept the pedal mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, only the principal constructional differences between that further laternative pedal operated mechanism and those oi the previous embodiments will be discussed.

Thus, the bell crank lever 22 can take the form of that shown in unbroken outline, by which the control cable 29 would normally be in a horizontal attitude, or, alternatively, be, as indicated, in dashed outline 22a, by which to give an optional 60 entry of the cable as measured hom the horizontal in Figure 9.

Thereby, the mechanism can accept two different bell crank levers, as indicated.

Whether the one, or the other, bell crank lever is adopted, the left, as again viewed in Figure 9, limb 22b thereof extends upwardly well into the hollow post 4 and is connected by a horizontal pivot pin 21 to the forked end 11 of an end fitting 12, there being but one such end fitting. The lower end of a rod 16 is screwed into-that end fitting and held in its adjusted vertical position by a locknut 46.

The upper end of the rod 16 is directly attached by a horizontal pivot pin 14 to the underside of a pedal 1. Moreover, a flexible dust seal 20 extends, not as in our previous embodiments within the hollow post 4, but rather upwardly thereof to the uDDer end of the rod 16 thereby to form a bellows-like seal at the top of the post 4.

Another constructional difference is the provision of a depending collar 47 secured at the bolting points 18 to the underside of a mounting panel 19, an elastometric boot 48 or 48a (according to which bell crank lever is used) being fitted to that collar 47 and around the control cable 29 to seal off the working parts of the mechanism positioned below the mounting panel.

A spring return direct to the bell crank lever 22 or 22a is provided, but a torsion spring 30, see Figure 7, is wrapped around a collar 25 with one of its ends anchored to the bell crank lever and the other to a plate 24.

Since the right, as viewed in Figure 9, limb 22c of the bell crank lever extends upwardly of the components, U-bolt 34 etc., providing for infinite adjustment in a horizontal plane, as in the previous embodiments, of the operative parts of the mechanism below the mounting panel to accommodate for control cable entry in any horizontal attirude (as well as in the "60 attitude" mentioned hereinbefore), the aforesaid components are positioned below the pivot pin 23 (and the pivot pin 21) rather than above as previously.

We have also devised two further alternative pedal operated mechanisms which are depicted in Figures 10 and 11 respectively and which are generally similar to the embodiment just described, differing therefrom principally in the respects now to be discussed.

Thus, the Figure 10 (which corresponds to Figure 9) is changed mainly in that a pivot bearing 100 is mounted intermediate the ends of the rod 16 so that the rod can pivot about that bearing as well as pivot at its opposite ends (which, whilst not shown, would be attached by one or both end fittings --- providing for the swivel adjustment of the bell crank lever relative to the pedal --- to the bell crank lever and foot pedal respectively) as previously.

By this construction, it will be the swinging movement of the rod 16 in its "intermediate" bearing 100 which will predominate to control the degree of pivotal movement of the foot pedal 1 rather than the fixed pivot 3.

In Figure 10, the bearing 100 takes the form of a spherical bearing 101 having a linear aperture 102 within which the rod 16 is slidable. The bearing 101 is mounted for pivotal movement in a complementary shaped housing 103 and part 104 of the post 4, the housing being affixed as at 105 to the top of the hollow post 4.

Figure 11 (a fragmentary view showing only some of the parts of Figure 10) differs therefrom only in that the bearing 101 with its aperture 102 and the housing 103 is disposed within the intermediate the ends of the hollow post 4.

In a further alternative illustrated in Figure 12, which is a variation of the pedal operated mechanism shown in Figures 6 to 9, the plate 24 is replaced by a pair of plates 24a and 24b, the bell crank lever 22 being connected for swinging movement as before to a first one 24a of the plates, to which the U-bolt 34 is also secured, and the cable casing 38 mounted upon the second plate 24b. The two plates are pivotally attached to one another so that the second plate 24b can be angularly swung about a horizontal axis downwardly relative to the first plate in a vertical plane. In particular, the angular adjustment provided is 300, the result being that the cable 29 can extend either horizontally or at any angle downwardly therefrom up to the 30 maximum. The point at which the plates are pivotally interconnected is coincident with the point 28 at which the cable is core connected to the lever 22, and hence effecting the vertical angular adjustment does not impart a linear movement to the cable core nor effect the 3600 horizontal adjustment of the cable in the horizontal plane. The first plate 24a has an arcuate slot 106 struck about the point 28 and extending through 30 , and the second plate 24b is bolted through that slot to the first plate.

The bolt 107 can be loosened to permit the second plate 24b to be angularly adjusted and then tightened to retain that plate in its newly adjusted attitude.

In the described forms, a pedal mechanism integrated with a mechanical control cable has been provided having a degree of flexible use previously unknown in the art. As will be appreciated, if wished the control cable and pedal mechanism could be sold separately or as a package.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for fixing the pedal in a particular position to a support structure such that (in one orientation of the mechanism) the pedal is pivotal relative to the structure in a vertical plane, an output means adapted for operative connection to a link element, and connection means operatively connecting the pedal and the output means such that the output means will move the link element, when operatively connected thereto, upon pivotal movement of the pedal, the mechanism being such that when the pedal is fixed by the fixing means in said particular position to the support structure the output means can be swivelled in a horizontal plane about an axis relative to the fixed pedal (considered in said one orientation of the mechanism) without affecting the ability of the pedal to pivot or the operative connection between the pedal and the output means, into any of a plurality of angular positions in said horizontal plane such that, in use, the link element can extend in any path complementary to that angular position into which the output means is swivelled.

2. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output means comprise a lever and means for mounting said lever for pivotal movement in a vertical plane (considere in said one orientation of said mechanism) about an axis in response to pivotal movement of said pedal, and wherein said connection means comprise a rod means and means pivotally connecting opposite ends of said rod means with said pedal and lever respectively, pivotal movement of said lever being effective to translate the cable element when said lever is operatively connected thereto.

3. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rod means extends substantially along said axis about which said lever swivels.

4. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod means comprises first and second parts rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of said rod means, one of said parts making said pivotal connection with the pedal and the other of said parts making said pivotal connection with the lever, angular adjustment of said lever about said swivel axis causing said first and second parts to rotate relative to one another about said rod means longitudinal axis whilst said pedal remains stationary.

5. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein relative rotation between said first and second parts effects linear move ment between said parts by which the pivotal attitude of said pedal is adjusted.

6. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 5, including means releasably locking said first and second parts against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of said rod means.

7. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said first and second parts are in screwthreaded engagement with one another.

8. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said parts comprises an end fitting and the other of said parts comprises a rod.

9. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 8, including a third rod means part comprising a second end fitting in screwthreaded engagement with the opposite end of said rod to that making screwthreaded engage ment with said first-mentioned end fitting, said end fitting making said pivotal connection with said pedal and said lever respectively.

10. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each end fitting, as the case may be, is of two pieces capable of pivotal movement relative to one another around an arcuate surface between said pieces in response to pivotal movement of said pedal.

11. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed

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Claims

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within the intermediate the ends of the hollow post 4.

In a further alternative illustrated in Figure 12, which is a variation of the pedal operated mechanism shown in Figures 6 to 9, the plate

24 is replaced by a pair of plates 24a and 24b, the bell crank lever 22 being connected for swinging movement as before to a first one 24a of the plates, to which the U-bolt 34 is also secured, and the cable casing 38 mounted upon the second plate 24b. The two plates are pivotally attached to one another so that the second plate 24b can be angularly swung about a horizontal axis downwardly relative to the first plate in a vertical plane. In particular, the angular adjustment provided is 300, the result being that the cable 29 can extend either horizontally or at any angle downwardly therefrom up to the 30 maximum. The point at which the plates are pivotally interconnected is coincident with the point 28 at which the cable is core connected to the lever 22, and hence effecting the vertical angular adjustment does not impart a linear movement to the cable core nor effect the 3600 horizontal adjustment of the cable in the horizontal plane. The first plate 24a has an arcuate slot

106 struck about the point 28 and extending through 30 , and the second plate 24b is bolted through that slot to the first plate.

The bolt 107 can be loosened to permit the second plate 24b to be angularly adjusted and then tightened to retain that plate in its newly adjusted attitude.

In the described forms, a pedal mechanism integrated with a mechanical control cable has been provided having a degree of flexible use previously unknown in the art. As will be appreciated, if wished the control cable and pedal mechanism could be sold separately or as a package.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for fixing the pedal in a particular position to a support structure such that (in one orientation of the mechanism) the pedal is pivotal relative to the structure in a vertical plane, an output means adapted for operative connection to a link element, and connection means operatively connecting the pedal and the output means such that the output means will move the link element, when operatively connected thereto, upon pivotal movement of the pedal, the mechanism being such that when the pedal is fixed by the fixing means in said particular position to the support structure the output means can be swivelled in a horizontal plane about an axis relative to the fixed pedal (considered in said one orientation of the mechanism) without affecting the ability of the pedal to pivot or the operative connection between the pedal and the output means, into any of a plurality of angular positions in said horizontal plane such that, in use, the link element can extend in any path complementary to that angular position into which the output means is swivelled.
2. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output means comprise a lever and means for mounting said lever for pivotal movement in a vertical plane (considere in said one orientation of said mechanism) about an axis in response to pivotal movement of said pedal, and wherein said connection means comprise a rod means and means pivotally connecting opposite ends of said rod means with said pedal and lever respectively, pivotal movement of said lever being effective to translate the cable element when said lever is operatively connected thereto.
3. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rod means extends substantially along said axis about which said lever swivels.
4. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod means comprises first and second parts rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of said rod means, one of said parts making said pivotal connection with the pedal and the other of said parts making said pivotal connection with the lever, angular adjustment of said lever about said swivel axis causing said first and second parts to rotate relative to one another about said rod means longitudinal axis whilst said pedal remains stationary.
5. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein relative rotation between said first and second parts effects linear move ment between said parts by which the pivotal attitude of said pedal is adjusted.
6. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 5, including means releasably locking said first and second parts against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of said rod means.
7. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said first and second parts are in screwthreaded engagement with one another.
8. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said parts comprises an end fitting and the other of said parts comprises a rod.
9. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 8, including a third rod means part comprising a second end fitting in screwthreaded engagement with the opposite end of said rod to that making screwthreaded engage ment with said first-mentioned end fitting, said end fitting making said pivotal connection with said pedal and said lever respectively.
10. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each end fitting, as the case may be, is of two pieces capable of pivotal movement relative to one another around an arcuate surface between said pieces in response to pivotal movement of said pedal.
11. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed

in any of claims 2 to 10, including a hollow post intermediate said pedal and said lever and into which said rod means extends to interconnect said pedal and said lever.
12. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein said hollow post provides a circular bearing surface whose axis is the swivel axis of said lever, and including means engaging said bearing surface and in connection with said lever by which to mount said lever for said swivel adjustment into any of an infinite number of said angular positions about said swivel axis within a predetermined angular range of movement.
13. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein said hollow post has a peripheral polygonal surface and the longitudinal axis of said post is the swivel axis of said lever, and including means engaging said polygonal post surface and in connection with said lever by which to permit said lever to make said swivel adjustment into any of a plurality of finite positions corresponding to the number of flat faces on said polygonal post surface.
14. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 12, including a support member to which said lever is mounted for its pivotal movement, and wherein said lever mounting means is directly connected to said support member by which said support member is capable of making said swivel adjustment movement and, thereby, cause said lever to perform similarly.
15. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 12 and claim 14, including means for damping said lever mounting means in any selected angular position about said swivel axis to said bearing surface.
16. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein said lever mounting means comprises U-bolt means embracing said post bearing surface and movable therearound, and means for clamping said U-bolt means to said support member to hold said U-bolt means in a selected angular position about said post bearing surface.
17. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein said pedal is pivotally mounted to said post.
18. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17, wherein said post includes an integral mounting collar by which said mechanism is mountable on said support structure for use therewith.
19. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 11 to 18, including means sealingly engaging sias rod means and said post to prevent the passage of extraneous matter between said rod means and the hollow interior of said post.
20. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 11 to 19, including bearing means carried by said hollow post and pivotal relative thereto, said rod means slidably extending through said bearing means.
21. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 20, wherein said bearing means is a spherical bearing means.
22. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 11 to 21, wherein said lever has a limb extending within said hollow post, said rod means being pivotally connected within said hollow post to said limb.
23. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of claims 2 to 22, including spring return means for biasing said pedal to its original position upon release of pressure applied thereto to cause said lever to pivot to translate, in use, the cable element.
24. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 23 when appendant to claim 14, wherein said spring return means comprises a tension spring anchored at one end to said support member and at the other end to said lever.
25. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 23, wherein said spring return means comprises a torsion spring operative upon said lever.
26. A pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for mounting the pedal to a support structure so that the pedal can pivot relative to the support structure in a vertical plane but is fixed against movement relative to the support structure in a horizontal plane (considered in one orientation of said mechanism), a pivotal lever adapted for operative connection to a link element, a rod means pivotally connected at its opposite ends with said pedal and lever respectively, a hollow post between said pedal and said lever and into which said rod means extends to interconnect said pedal and said lever, said hollow post providing a bearing surface having an axis, and means tor engaging said bearing surface and in connection with said lever by which to mount said lever for swivel adjustment in a horizontal plane (considered in said one orientation of siad mechanism) about axis and relative to said pedal when said pedal is mounted by said mounting means to the support structure, into any of a number of angular positions about said swivel axis in which selected angular position said lever can be fixed, such that the link element can extend in any path complementary to the angular position in which the lever is adjusted, the rod means maintaining an operative connection between the pedal and the lever such that pivotal movement of the pedal will pivot the lever to move the link element when operatively connected to the lever in whatever angular position the lever is adjusted.
27. A pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, rod and lever in which the pedal pivots about an axis to move the rod to move the lever, a first mounting means for mounting the pedal on a support structure so that the pedal is fixed in a particualr position to the support structure in which position the pedal can pivot about said axis, a second mounting means mounting the lever, and means between the two mounting means enabling the position of the second mounting means and hence the lever to be adjusted with respect to the first mounting means and hence to the pedal, when the pedal is mounted by the first mounting means in said particular position on the support structure, along an arc centred about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the pedal pivots, whereby, in use of said mechanism, a link element may be routed to the lever from any of a number of orientations angularly displaced from one another around said axis about which the second mounting means can be adjusted.
28. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in any of the preceding claims and in combination with the link element which comprises a flexible cable having a cable element translatable within the casing, the cable element being operatively connected to said output means or said lever, as the case may be, and said casing being clamped against linear movement with said cable element.
29. A pedal operated mechanism as claimed in claim 28, including means upon which the cable casing is mounted, said mounting means being swingable through a predetermined angular range of adjustment in a vertical plane relative to said output means about a point coincident with the point of operative connection of said cable element to said output means, by which cable can extend in any path complementary to the angular position in which said mounting means is adjusted, and means for retaining said mounting means in within its said angular adjustment range.

any position within its said angular adjustment range.
30. Either of the pedal operated mechanisms substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
31. Any of the pedal operated mechanisms substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
32. A pedal operated mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.