JP2014139729A - Pedal arm for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedal arm for vehicle capable of achieving reduction in weight while securing practical support rigidity and operability.SOLUTION: A pedal arm (1) for vehicle which is formed by pressing a metal tube (10) having a uniform cross-sectional shape in a longitudinal direction has a curved portion (13) in a tip side portion adjacent to a tread (2). The curved portion is press-formed into such a double U-shaped cross section that one side (31) of a peripheral wall of the metal tube is recessed and is taken into the inner part of the other side (32). The metal tube has a flat cross-sectional shape in an operation direction of the pedal arm, and the curved portion (13) is press-formed from the lateral side perpendicular to the radius of curvature direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle pedal arm that can be used for a vehicle brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a clutch pedal, and the like.

  Conventionally, as a pedal arm for a vehicle as described above, a pedal arm obtained by punching a steel plate and press forming is generally used. However, since the pedal arm is required to have high rigidity, a thick steel plate having a thickness of 6 mm or more is used for the steel plate, which increases the weight. Thus, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose that the pedal arm is formed of a hollow metal tube.

  In Patent Document 1, the pedal arm made of a metal tube having a circular cross section is bent and fixed to the pedal seat by welding. If the bent portion is thick, the pedal movable area on the vehicle floor side is not sufficient. If it becomes narrower and the clearance is insufficient, a problem of interfering with the floor carpet occurs. If the bending of the pedal arm is made small in order to secure the clearance on the vehicle floor surface side, the clearance with the operator toe to be secured in front of the pedal seat becomes narrow, resulting in a problem that the operability is deteriorated.

  If a small diameter metal tube is used in order to avoid these problems, the strength of the pedal arm will inevitably be insufficient. In the examples according to FIGS. 11 to 14 of Patent Document 1, it is described that the diameter of the base end side is increased, and in Patent Document 2, it is described that a conical tube having a large diameter is formed on the base end side. However, in any case, the tendency to reduce the thickness by increasing the diameter is unavoidable, and it does not necessarily contribute to securing the strength, and also causes an increase in the manufacturing process and the number of processing steps, and the disadvantage in terms of manufacturing cost cannot be denied.

JP 2009-169980 A JP 2001-287629 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle pedal arm that can achieve weight reduction while ensuring practical support rigidity and operability. It is in.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a vehicular pedal arm formed by pressing a metal tube having a uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and bends at a front end side portion adjacent to the tread surface. What has a part (13,23) WHEREIN: The said bending part is press-molded by the cross-sectional double U-shape by which one side of the surrounding wall of the said metal pipe was recessed and it was transferred to the inner side of the other side. And

According to the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.
(A) Since a metal tube having a uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction without passing through a special manufacturing process is used as a material, material costs are not required, and material procurement and quality control are easy.
(B) Since the bent portion is press-molded into a double U-shaped cross section in which one side of the peripheral wall of the metal tube is recessed and transferred inwardly on the other side, the necessary strength is ensured while maintaining the original strength. The apparent cross-sectional area of the metal tube can be greatly reduced. Thereby, a wide range of movement of the pedal and the range of movement of the operator's toe on the vehicle floor surface side can be secured, and good operability can be obtained while avoiding interference with the floor carpet and interference with the operator's toe.
(C) No need for removal processing such as cutting at the bent part or other parts, avoiding the accompanying strength reduction, and no need for welding to make a hollow cross-section. Therefore, the manufacturing process is not complicated.
(D) While achieving weight reduction by using a hollow metal tube having a uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, since the cross-sectional area of the metal tube is not limited by the bent portion, it is easy to ensure the strength on the base end side. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a reinforcing means separately.

  In the present invention, the metal pipe (10) has a flat cross-sectional shape in the pedal arm operation direction, and the bent portion (13) is press-formed from the side perpendicular to the curvature radius direction. In addition, it is possible to secure strength without pressing the base end side part where the rotation support part and output part to the vehicle body side are provided, and it is also possible to easily press the bent part, and in terms of manufacturing cost It is advantageous.

  In the present invention, the metal tube (20) has an isotropic cross section such as a circle, the base end side portion (21) is flatly pressed in the pedal arm operation direction, and the bent portion (23) is formed. , It may be press-molded in the curvature radius direction. In this aspect, a step of press-molding the base end side portion is required, but in other respects, substantially the same effect can be obtained.

(A) is the right view which shows the pedal arm which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) is the AA expanded sectional view, (c) is the BB expanded sectional view, (d) is the same. It is CC expanded sectional drawing. It is the schematic which shows the manufacturing process of the pedal arm which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is the right view which shows the pedal arm which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is the AA sectional drawing, (c) is the BB sectional drawing, (d) is the C- It is C sectional drawing. (A)-(c) is an expanded sectional view which shows the modification of the pedal arm (curved part) which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a left view which shows the brake pedal apparatus provided with the pedal arm which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a vehicle pedal arm 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention used as a brake pedal of an automobile, and FIG. 5 shows a brake pedal device 100 provided with the pedal arm 1. In each figure, the pedal arm 1 has a pedal plate 2 serving as a tread at the tip located on the lower side in the figure, and can turn on the vehicle body side bracket 7 on the base end side portion 11 located on the upper side in the figure. A boss 3 serving as a rotation support portion to be supported and a boss 4 constituting an output portion connected to the brake device side are provided apart from each other.

  In the illustrated example, one end of the first link 5 is connected to the boss 4, and an operating rod (not shown) of a brake booster is connected to the center of the first link 5. The other end of the first link 5 is connected to the tip of the second link 6, and the base end of the second link 6 is connected to the rotation support portion (boss 3). Contrary to the illustrated example, the boss 4 (output unit) may be disposed at the uppermost end, and the boss 3 (rotation support unit) may be disposed near the middle.

  The pedal arm 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed by pressing a general-purpose metal tube (flat elliptical tube) having a flattened elliptical cross-sectional shape that is uniform in the longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional shape of the original metal tube (10) as shown in FIG. 1 (b) remains in the intermediate portion 12 continuing to the distal end side via the bent portion 11b. In contrast, a curved portion 13 is continued further to the distal end side of the intermediate portion 12 via a transition portion 12a (FIG. 1 (c)) having a cross-sectional shape, and the curved portion 13 is illustrated in FIG. 1 (d). As shown in FIG. 1, one side 31 (right side in the figure) of the metal tube (10) is recessed and is press-formed into a double U-shaped cross section that is transferred inwardly on the other side 32 (left side in the figure). .

Next, the manufacturing process of the pedal arm 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a flat elliptic tube 10 having a predetermined length having a distal end 10a and a proximal end 10a is prepared. Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the bent portion 11 b and the bent portion 130 are bent using a pipe bender or a press die to form the proximal end portion 11 and the intermediate portion 12. At this time, the whole still has a flat elliptical cross-sectional shape that is uniform in the longitudinal direction. At this stage, as shown in FIG. 2C, the attachment holes 11a and 11c of the bosses 3 and 4 are formed by press drilling.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), with respect to the bent portion 130 having a flat elliptical cross-sectional shape, a convex shape with the side perpendicular to the radius of curvature (the flat direction of the flat elliptical tube 10) set as the pressing direction. And a concave mold, and one side 31 is recessed to form a double U-shaped bent portion 13 which is transferred inwardly on the other side 32, and the intermediate portion 12 and a bent portion having a reduced width are formed. 13, a transition portion 12 a is formed in which the cross-sectional shape transitions from a flat elliptical cross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion 12 to a double U-shaped cross-section of the bent portion 13.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2 (e), the distal end portion 13 a of the bent portion 13 is cut obliquely in accordance with the inclination of the pedal plate 2, and the cut distal end 13 c is fixed to the back surface of the pedal plate 2 by welding. As a result, the tip 13c that has been opened with a double U-shaped cross section is closed, and the rigidity of the bent portion 13 is ensured.

  In the pedal arm 1 formed as described above, the main portion from the base end side portion 11 to the intermediate portion 12 where the rotation support portion (3) and the output portion (4) are provided is in the operation direction of the pedal arm 1. Since it has a flat cross-sectional shape, the hollow flat elliptical tube 10 can easily ensure the required strength while achieving weight reduction.

  Moreover, since the bending part 13 which continues to the front end side of the intermediate part 12 via the transition part 12a is shape | molded by the press from the side in the double U-shaped cross section, the strength required for this part is ensured. However, the apparent cross-sectional area, in particular, the dimension in the pedal arm operation direction, which is the vertical direction in FIG. 1 (d), is reduced to about ½, which is accompanied by the removal processing of the material (flat elliptic tube 10). In this way, a large cross-sectional change is achieved between the base end portion 11 and the base end portion 11.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 5, it is possible to easily secure the pedal movable area in the vicinity of the dash panel 8 and the clearance of the operator toe 9 with respect to the movable area 9a. Interference with the operator toe 9 is avoided and good operability is maintained. In addition, since the cross-sectional area (dimension in the pedal arm operation direction) of the tip 13c is reduced, an excess space is secured around the tip 13c on the back side of the pedal plate 2, and a rubber pedal pad ( There is also an advantage that an engagement allowance for attaching (not shown) can be easily secured.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the flat elliptic tube 10 is used as the material of the pedal arm 1 is shown. However, a flat metal tube other than the elliptic tube suitable for the cross-sectional shape of the proximal end portion 11 such as a flat rectangular tube is used. You can also. Furthermore, as in the second embodiment described below, by adding a pressing step for flattening the proximal end portion, a circular tube or a square tube can be used instead of a flat or anisotropic metal tube. The pedal arm according to the present invention can also be configured using a metal tube having an isotropic cross-sectional shape.

  FIG. 3 shows a pedal arm 201 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The pedal arm 201 according to the second embodiment is formed by pressing using a circular tube 20 having a uniform circular cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction (shown in FIG. 3C as the intermediate portion 22). The bending portion 22b and the bending portion (23) are bent using a pipe bender or a press die in the state of the circular pipe 20 in the same manner as in FIG. 2B of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, after that, the flat base end side portion 21 that continues through the transition portion 21b having a cross-sectional shape above the bent portion 22b (intermediate portion 22) is formed by pressing from the side. Different from one embodiment.

  After flattening the proximal end portion 21, the mounting holes 21a and 21c are drilled, and then the intermediate portion 22 is pressed by pressing in the pedal arm operating direction (direction of the cross-sectional display line CC in FIG. 3). A bent portion 23 that is continuous through a transition portion 22a having a cross-sectional shape is formed on the distal end side of each of the two. The bent portion 23 in the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the lower side of the circular tube (20) has a double U-shaped cross section that is transferred inwardly on the upper side.

  In the present embodiment, the bent portion 23 having a double U-shaped cross section can be formed by bending the bent portion (23) prior to flattening of the proximal end portion 21. The point of cutting the tip 23c after the formation of the bent portion 23 is the same as described above.

  4A to 4C show practical modifications of the pedal arm 1 (bending portion 13) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In each of the above-described embodiments, the inner and outer side wall portions 31 and 32 are pressed so as not to substantially leave the inner space in the double U-shaped bent portion 13 (23). In 41-43, all are shape | molded so that an arc-shaped cross section may remain in the edge 33 of a double U-shaped cross section.

  In the formation of the bent portion 13 (41 to 43) in which one side 31 of the peripheral wall of the metal tube is recessed and transferred inward of the other side 32, the edge of the arc-shaped cross section is compared with the case where the edge portion is completely compressed. By leaving the portion 33, there is an advantage that stable processing can be performed with less burden on the material. Further, in the modified example 41 (13) shown in FIG. 4A, the curvatures of the inner and outer side wall portions 31 and 32 except for the edge portion 33 are set to be approximately the same, and the inner wall portion 31 is completely folded inside the outer wall portion 32. Instead, the press working is stopped at the contacted position so that the internal space 30 remains.

  On the other hand, in the modified example 42 (13) shown in FIG. 4B, while the edge 33 is formed by press molding using a mold having an arc-shaped cross section, the inner and outer side walls 31, No internal space remains in 32. Moreover, the modification 43 (13) shown in FIG. 4C is a modification closest to the first embodiment shown in FIG. No internal space is left on the inner and outer side wall portions 31 and 32.

  In addition, in each said embodiment, although the cross-sectional shape of the bending part 13 (23) was described comprehensively as "a cross-section double U-shape", as clear also from the above modifications 41-43, It can also be expressed as “double C shape” or “double V shape with rounded tip” taking draft angle into consideration. These are representational problems, and are essentially the same in the feature that one side wall of the metal tube is recessed and transferred inwardly on the other side, and both side walls that are doubled inside and outside are reduced in width.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are further possible based on the technical idea of this invention.

For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the bent portions 11b and 22b are formed between the base end side portions 11 and 21 and the intermediate portions 12 and 22 is shown, but these bent portions may be omitted. .
Furthermore, although the case where the pedal arm which concerns on this invention is implemented in the brake pedal of a vehicle was shown in the said embodiment, implementing as other pedal arms, such as an accelerator pedal and a clutch pedal, is also within the scope of the present invention. Is possible.

1,201 Pedal arm 2 Pedal plate (tread)
3 Boss (rotating support)
4 Boss (output part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flat ellipse tube 11, 21 Base end part 11a, 11c, 21a, 21c Attachment hole 11b, 22b Bending part 12, 22 Intermediate part 12a, 21b, 22a Transition part 13, 23 Bending part 20 Circular pipe

Claims (2)

In a pedal arm for a vehicle formed by pressing a metal tube having a uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and having a bent portion at a tip side portion adjacent to the tread surface,
The pedal arm for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is press-formed in a double U-shaped cross section in which one side of the peripheral wall of the metal tube is recessed and transferred inwardly on the other side.   2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the metal tube has a flat cross-sectional shape in a pedal arm operation direction, and the bent portion is press-formed from a side perpendicular to the curvature radius direction. Pedal arm.

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