JP2013071609A - Pedal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedal device with favorable operability which generates a reaction force allowing easy step-on even if a drive source fails or such a failure as to continue an output occurs.SOLUTION: An accelerator pedal device 1 includes an accelerator pedal 2, a pedal side arm 11 rotatably connecting one end to the accelerator pedal 2 and the other end to an energizing force generater 10 around a first rotation axis line A1, an electric motor 26 applying a motor energizing force which becomes a step-on reaction force against the accelerator pedal 2, and a drive side arm 21 which is rotatably supported around a second rotation axis line A2 and detachably brought into contact with the pedal side arm 11 to transmit motor torque generated by the electric motor 26 to the pedal side arm 11 where the drive side arm 21 is disposed so that a contact position P with the pedal side arm 11 comes close to the first rotation axis line A1 as a step-on amount of the accelerator pedal 2 increases.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedal device that applies a stepping reaction force to a pedal provided in a vehicle.

  In recent years, various accelerator pedal reaction force devices have been developed that can change the depression reaction force that resists depression of the accelerator pedal as desired. For example, in the accelerator pedal reaction force device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pedal side arm is provided so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis, and a rotation member is disposed adjacent to the pedal side arm, and is rotated by a drive source. By rotating the member and bringing the free end of the rotating member into contact with the pedal side arm, a stepping reaction force that pushes the pedal side arm back to the rest position (original position) is applied.

JP 2011-68175 A

  By the way, when a pedal reaction force device is mounted on an automobile, it is desirable to have a pedal configuration that is easy to depress as much as possible even when a drive source fails or a failure that continues output occurs. It is.

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, when the pedal-side arm rotates from the rest position toward the maximum depression position, the contact position between the rotation member and the pedal-side arm is displaced so as to move away from the first rotation axis. When the pedal-side arm rotates toward the rest position, the contact position is displaced so as to approach the first rotation axis. Therefore, as the accelerator pedal is depressed, the distance between the first rotation axis and the contact position increases and the moment length becomes longer. Therefore, when the rotating member is urged with the same force, a larger reaction force is generated as the accelerator pedal is depressed.

  In other words, when the drive source fails or a failure that continues output occurs, the accelerator pedal generates a reaction force that is very difficult to depress, which may cause the driver to feel uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and has an operability that generates a reaction force that is easy to step even when a drive source fails or when a failure that continues output occurs. The object is to provide a good pedal device.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pedal device (1), a pedal (2) used for a driver's stepping operation, one end connected to the pedal, and the other end to a vehicle body side member ( 10) a pedal side arm (11) connected to be rotatable about the first rotation axis (A1), and a reaction force (Fm) in a direction opposite to the stepping operation direction of the driver with respect to the pedal. A driving source (26) for applying, and a driving force (a driving force generated by the driving source) that is rotatably supported around the second rotation axis (A2) and removably contacts the pedal arm. (Tm) is transmitted to the pedal side arm, and the driving side arm has a contact position (P) with the pedal side arm as the pedal depression amount (θa) increases. A configuration provided to approach the first rotation axis; That.

  With such a configuration, when the pedal member is operated in the direction in which the pedal member is depressed, the contact position between the pedal side arm and the driving side arm approaches the first rotation axis. In other words, in a region where the pedal stroke is large, even if the driving arm transmits driving force to the pedal arm at a position close to the first rotation axis, even if the driving source maintains the output at a constant value. The reaction force generated by the drive source is smaller than that in the region where the pedal stroke is small. Therefore, the driver who is willing to depress the pedal can be less annoyed by the increase in the depressing reaction force. Even under a situation where it continues to be exerted, it becomes easy to step on the pedal deeply, and a decrease in operability can be suppressed.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, in a state where the pedal is not depressed, a distance (L2) from the contact position to the second rotation axis is from the contact position to the first rotation axis. The configuration can be shorter than the distance (L1).

  With such a configuration, the arm length of the drive side arm is shortened, the apparatus can be miniaturized, and the drive source can be miniaturized as the required drive torque is reduced. Further, when the contact position between the pedal-side arm and the drive-side arm approaches the first rotation axis when operated in the direction in which the pedal is depressed, the second rotation axis of the drive-side arm is used. Can be freely set to some extent, so that the degree of freedom in design can be increased and the apparatus can be made compact.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the pedal side arm can be configured such that the contact surface (11a) with the driving side arm is provided with irregularities (11b).

  With such a configuration, even if a constant force is applied to the pedal side arm from the driving side arm, the reaction force can be changed according to the position of the driving side arm that contacts the pedal side arm. For this reason, for example, a plurality of convex portions or concave portions are provided at predetermined intervals on the contact surface, and the amount of operation of the pedal can be sensibly recognized by the driver.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a pedal device with good operability that generates a reaction force that is easy to be depressed even when a drive source fails or when a failure that continues output occurs. be able to.

Side view of accelerator pedal device according to the present invention Schematic block diagram of the accelerator pedal device shown in FIG. Graph showing the relationship between the amount of depression and the first biasing force A graph showing the relationship between the amount of depression and the second biasing force Operation explanatory diagram of the accelerator pedal device shown in FIG. Graph showing the relationship between the amount of depression and the total urging force in normal times A graph showing the relationship between the amount of depression and total urging force at the time of failure Operation explanatory diagram of the accelerator pedal device according to the first modified embodiment Operation explanatory diagram of the accelerator pedal device according to the second modified embodiment

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a pedal device according to the present invention is applied to an accelerator pedal 2 of an automobile will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an accelerator pedal device 1 applies a stepping reaction force resisting a stepping force to an accelerator pedal 2 provided in an automobile, and is an organ type used for a driver's stepping operation. The accelerator pedal 2, the urging force generator 10 that generates the urging force applied to the accelerator pedal 2 via the pedal side arm 11, and the power that generates the driving force applied to the accelerator pedal 2 via the drive side arm 21. Generator 20.

  The accelerator pedal 2 has a lower end rotatably connected to the vehicle body 30, and a pedal side arm 11 is connected to an upper portion of the accelerator pedal 2 via a link member 3. It is energized to the standing side. FIG. 1 shows a state where the accelerator pedal 2 is in the original position.

  The urging force generation device 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 30 and supports the pedal side arm 11 so as to be rotatable about the first rotation axis A1. The urging force generator 10 generates a urging force (hereinafter referred to as a first urging force Fs1) that returns the depressed accelerator pedal 2 to its original position by a mechanical configuration, and the first urging force is generated via the pedal side arm 11. The force Fs1 is applied to the accelerator pedal 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the urging force generation device 10 includes a return spring 12, a hysteresis characteristic generation unit 13, and an operation amount sensor 14.

  The hysteresis characteristic generation unit 13 gives a hysteresis characteristic to the torque generated by the return spring 12 and uses the first urging force Fs1 applied to the accelerator pedal 2 as a characteristic shown in FIG. That is, the accelerator pedal 2 generates a relatively large stepping reaction force when depressed by the first urging force Fs1, and a relatively small stepping reaction force when returned. For the return spring 12 and the hysteresis characteristic generation unit 13, a known configuration such as the configuration described in International Publication No. 01/19638 can be employed, for example.

  The operation amount sensor 14 detects a depression amount θa (operation amount) from the original position of the accelerator pedal 2 in accordance with the displacement of the pedal side arm 11, and is referred to as an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU 4). Output).

  The power generation device 20 is fixed to the urging force generation device 10 and supports the drive side arm 21 so as to be rotatable around the second rotation axis A2. The drive-side arm 21 is substantially L-shaped in a side view, and has a downward arm portion 22 projecting downward from the second rotation axis A2 and a rear side of the second rotation axis A2 (the right accelerator in FIG. 1). And a rear arm portion 23 projecting in the original position direction of the pedal 2.

  One end of the driving side arm 21 (the free end of the downward arm portion 22) is provided with a pin 24 protruding sideways, and the other end of the driving side arm 21 (the free end of the rearward arm portion 23) is a tension coil. The lower end of the follower spring 25 made of a spring is connected. The upper end of the follower spring 25 is connected to the housing of the power generation device 20, and the follower spring 25 biases the free end of the rear arm 23 upward so that the drive side arm 21 causes the pin 24 to move to the pedal side. The accelerator pedal 2 that has been depressed by causing the pedal-side arm 11 to generate a torque as shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter referred to as a follow-up torque Tf) while constantly contacting the pedal-side arm 11 by following the movement of the arm 11. Is applied to the accelerator pedal 2 (hereinafter referred to as a second urging force Fs2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation device 20 includes an electric motor 26 controlled by the ECU 4 and a speed reducer 27 interposed between the electric motor 26 and the drive side arm 21. The electric motor 26 generates torque (hereinafter referred to as motor torque Tm) corresponding to the control signal Sm from the ECU 4 to the drive side arm 21 via the speed reducer 27, and this motor torque Tm is generated in the pedal side arm 11. By acting, power in the original position direction (hereinafter referred to as motor biasing force Fm) is applied to the accelerator pedal 2. As a result, the drive side arm 21 applies the second urging force Fs2 from the follower spring 25 and the motor urging force Fm from the electric motor 26 to the accelerator pedal 2. In the following description, the sum of the follow-up torque Tf and the motor torque Tm is referred to as a drive side torque Td, and the sum of the second urging force Fs2 and the motor urging force Fm is referred to as a driving side urging force Fd. And the first urging force Fs1 is referred to as a total urging force Ft.

  The ECU 4 sets the motor torque Tm to be generated by the drive side arm 21 according to the depression amount θa detected by the operation amount sensor 14, the vehicle speed, the gear stage of the selected transmission, etc. In addition to driving control, it controls the driving system of an automobile, that is, an engine, a motor, a transmission, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, convex portions 11 b are provided at predetermined intervals on the front surface of the pedal-side arm 11, that is, on the contact surface 11 a that contacts the pin 24 of the driving-side arm 21.

  In the state where the accelerator pedal 2 shown in FIG. 1 is in the original position, the second rotation axis A2 of the driving side arm 21 is in contact with the contact position P between the driving side arm 21 and the pedal side arm 11 and the pedal side arm 11. It is arranged at a position close to the rear side (the original position direction of the accelerator pedal 2) with respect to the straight line l connecting the first rotation axis A1. Further, the distance L2 from the contact position P to the second rotation axis A2 of the drive side arm 21 is smaller than the distance L1 from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1 of the pedal side arm 11.

  This link relationship is schematically shown in FIG. That is, the driving side arm 21 applies the driving side torque Td in the direction of the angle θ at the contact position P that is separated from the first rotation axis A1 by the distance L1 with respect to the pedal side arm 11.

On the other hand, when the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed, as the pedal arm 11 rotates, the driving arm 21 also moves forward (accelerator while displacing the contact position P with the pedal arm 11 in the direction of the first rotation axis A1. The pedal 2 is rotated in the direction in which the pedal 2 is depressed, and the state shown in FIG. At this time, the driving side arm 21 causes the driving side torque Td to act on the pedal side arm 11 in the direction of the angle θ ′ at the contact position P that is separated from the first rotation axis A1 by the distance L1 ′. The distance L1 ′ at the time of depression is smaller than the distance L1 at the original position, and the angle θ ′ at the time of depression is smaller than the angle θ at the original position. Therefore, if the driving side biasing force Fd applied when the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed is Fd ′ with respect to the driving side biasing force Fd applied to the accelerator pedal 2 in the original position, the driving side torque Td is constant. The driving side urging force Fd ′ at the time of depressing when it is a value is expressed by the following equation (1), and is smaller than the driving side urging force Fd at the original position.
Fd ′ = Fd · (L1 ′ / L1) · (sin θ ′ / sin θ) (1)

  Since the follow-up torque Tf by the follow-up spring 25 changes as shown in FIG. 4, as a result, when the motor torque Tm is 0, that is, when the motor energizing force Fm is 0, the second energizing force Fs1 is set to the second energizing force Fs1. The total urging force Ft to which the urging force Fs2 is added is as shown in FIG. In addition, the imaginary line in FIG. 6 has shown the virtual total urging | biasing force when the follow-up torque Tf of FIG. 4 becomes the 2nd urging | biasing force as it is. That is, the increase rate (inclination) of the stepping reaction force in the region where the depression amount θa of the accelerator pedal 2 is large is smaller than the increase rate of the stepping reaction force in the region where the depression amount θa of the accelerator pedal 2 is small. Therefore, it is reduced that the driver who intends to depress the pedal feels bothered by an increase in the depressing reaction force.

  Further, when a failure occurs in which the electric motor 26 continues to output the motor torque Tm, the motor urging force Fm corresponding to the constant motor torque Tm is added to the total urging force Ft in FIG. In such a case, in the conventional accelerator pedal 2 in which the contact position P of the drive side arm 21 with the pedal side arm 11 becomes farther from the first rotation axis A1 as the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed, the drive side biasing force at the original position is provided. Since the driving-side urging force Fd ′ at the depressed position becomes larger than Fd, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 7, the reaction force of the characteristic that the accelerator pedal 2 is very difficult to depress is generated, and the driver feels strange in operation. Will give. On the other hand, according to the accelerator pedal device 1 according to the present embodiment, the accelerator pedal 2 generates a reaction force as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, so that it becomes easy to step on the accelerator pedal 2 and the operability is reduced. Can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, in the state of FIG. 1 where the accelerator pedal 2 is not depressed, the distance L2 from the contact position P to the second rotation axis A2 is equal to the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1. Is shorter than the distance L1. Therefore, the arm length (distance L2) of the drive side arm 21 is shortened, the accelerator pedal device 1 can be reduced in size, and the motor torque Tm necessary to exert the desired motor biasing force Fm can be reduced. The motor 26 can be reduced in size.

  Further, since the contact surface 11a of the pedal side arm 11 is provided with the convex portions 11b with a predetermined interval, the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed and the driving side arm 21 first rotates the contact position P with the pedal side arm 11. When the pin 24 is displaced in the direction of the axis A1, the pin 24 slides over the convex portions 11b, so that a click feeling (moderation feeling) is generated in the reaction force of the accelerator pedal 2. As a result, the driver can recognize the pedal depression amount θa sensuously.

<First Modification>
Next, a first modification of the present invention will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 8 schematically showing the relationship of links corresponding to FIG. Since the basic configuration of the accelerator pedal device 1 is the same as that of the above embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The same applies to the second modification.

  In this modification, the length of the drive side arm 21, that is, the distance L2 from the contact position P of the drive side arm 21 with the pedal side arm 11 to the second rotation axis A2, and the accelerator pedal shown in FIG. The distance L1 from the contact position P between the drive side arm 21 and the pedal side arm 11 to the first rotation axis A1 of the pedal side arm 11 when 2 is not depressed is the same as in the above embodiment. That is, as in the above embodiment, the distance L2 from the contact position P to the second rotation axis A2 is shorter than the distance L1 from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1. On the other hand, the second rotation axis A2 of the drive side arm 21 is arranged at a position closer to the front side (the depression direction of the accelerator pedal 2) than the straight line l connecting the contact position P and the first rotation axis A1. ing.

  Even if the driving side arm 21 is arranged in this way, when the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed, the contact position P of the driving side arm 21 with respect to the pedal side arm 11 is first rotated as shown in FIG. The distance L1 ′ from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1 of the pedal arm 11 is shorter than the distance L1 at the original position (FIG. 8A). Further, the angle θ ′ of the drive side torque Td that the drive side arm 21 acts on the pedal side arm 11 when the pedal is depressed is smaller than the angle θ at the original position. Therefore, when the drive side torque Td is a constant value, the drive side biasing force Fd ′ at the time of stepping becomes smaller than the drive side biasing force Fd at the original position, which is the same as that in the above-described embodiment (FIGS. 6 and 7). A similar stepping reaction force can be exerted on the accelerator pedal 2.

  Further, since the distance L2 from the contact position P to the second rotation axis A2 is shorter than the distance L1 from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1, the operation is performed in the direction in which the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed. Accordingly, when the contact position P approaches the first rotation axis A1, the position of the second rotation axis A2 of the drive side arm 21 can be freely set to some extent (the contact position P and the first time). This can be set in front of the straight line l connecting the dynamic axis A1, so that the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus can be increased and the apparatus can be made compact.

<Second Modification>
Next, a second modification of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 9A, the distance L2 from the contact position P of the drive side arm 21 to the pedal side arm 11 to the second rotation axis A2 is from the contact position P to the pedal side arm. 11 is greater than the distance L1 to the first rotation axis A1. On the other hand, the second rotation axis A2 of the drive side arm 21 is forward of the straight line l connecting the contact position P and the first rotation axis A1 when the accelerator pedal 2 is not depressed. It is arranged at a position far away from.

  Even if the drive side arm 21 is arranged in this way, when the accelerator pedal 2 is depressed, the contact position P of the drive side arm 21 to the pedal side arm 11 is first rotated as shown in FIG. 9B. The distance L1 ′ from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1 is shorter than the distance L1 at the original position. Therefore, the drive side biasing force Fd ′ at the time of stepping when the drive side torque Td is a constant value becomes smaller than the drive side biasing force Fd at the original position, and the stepping reaction force (FIG. The stepping reaction force similar to that shown in FIG. 7) can be exerted on the accelerator pedal 2.

  This is the end of the description of the specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the specific shape and arrangement of each member can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there. For example, although the example which applied the pedal apparatus which concerns on this invention to the accelerator pedal 2 was shown in the said embodiment, it is also possible to apply not only to the accelerator pedal 2, but a brake pedal and a clutch pedal. In the above embodiment, a tension coil spring is used as the follow-up spring 25 for keeping the drive side arm 21 in contact with the pedal side arm 11, but a torsion coil spring is assembled to the rotor of the electric motor 26. It is also possible to make the drive side arm 21 follow the pedal side arm 11 by always outputting the motor torque Tm without using the form or the spring.

  On the other hand, the pedal device according to the present invention shown in the above embodiment does not necessarily require all elements, and can be appropriately selected without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Accelerator pedal apparatus 2 Accelerator pedal 10 Energizing force generator (vehicle body side member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Pedal side arm 11a Contact surface 11b Convex part 20 Power generator 21 Drive side arm 26 Electric motor (drive source)
A1 First rotation axis A2 Second rotation axis L1 Distance from the contact position P to the first rotation axis A1 (original position)
L1 ′ Distance from contact position P to first rotation axis A1 (when depressed)
L2 Distance from contact position P to second rotation axis A2 P contact position Fs1 first biasing force Fs2 second biasing force Fm motor biasing force (reaction force)
Fd Driving side biasing force (Fs2 + Fm) (when the accelerator pedal is in its original position)
Fd 'Drive side biasing force (when the accelerator pedal is depressed)
Ft total biasing force (Fs1 + Fd (Fs2 + Fm))
Tf Tracking torque Tm Motor torque (driving force)
Td Driving torque (Tf + Tm)
θa Depression amount

Claims (3)

A pedal used for a driver's stepping operation;
A pedal side arm having one end coupled to the pedal and the other end coupled to the vehicle body side member so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis;
A driving source for applying a reaction force in a direction opposite to the driver's stepping operation direction to the pedal;
A drive-side arm that is rotatably supported about a second rotation axis, removably contacts the pedal-side arm, and transmits a driving force generated by the drive source to the pedal-side arm;
The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein the drive side arm is provided such that a contact position with the pedal side arm approaches the first rotation axis as the pedal depression amount increases.   The distance from the contact position to the second rotation axis is shorter than the distance from the contact position to the first rotation axis in a state where the pedal is not depressed. The pedal device described.   3. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein an unevenness is provided on a contact surface of the pedal side arm with the driving side arm.

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